Soludo Makes U-Turn, Criticises Odumeje For ‘Attempting To Stop’ Church Demolition

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Sunday, July 10th, 2022

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has critised a popular prophet in the state, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, otherwise known as Odumeje, saying he attempted to stop the demolition of his church building.

Mr Soludo stated this on Friday at the governor’s lodge, Awka, while briefing journalists on the ongoing demolition of illegal structures in the state.

The cleric’s church building which was partially pulled down on Thursday was among the illegal structures marked for demolition by the state government in Onitsha North council area of the state.

During the exercise, some task force members, supervising the demolition were captured in a video clip manhandling the cleric.

But during the Friday briefing, which was broadcast live on Facebook, the governor said the cleric’s attempt to stop the demolition prompted the security agencies to intervene “to maintain law and order.”

The governor’s statement came hours after he condemned the manhandling of the cleric by members of the task force.

“I received an account that he (Odumeje) drove into the place in a very menacing manner, almost rammed into the security officers and he came out and went to accost the guy who was driving the machine (excavator) with intent to Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has critised a popular prophet in the state,
Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, otherwise known as Odumeje, saying he attempted to stop the demolition of his church building.

Mr Soludo stated this on Friday at the governor’s lodge, Awka, while briefing journalists on the ongoing demolition of illegal structures in the state.

The cleric’s church building which was partially pulled down on Thursday was among the illegal structures marked for demolition by the state government in Onitsha North council area of the state.

During the exercise, some task force members, supervising the demolition were captured in a video clip manhandling the cleric.

The governor’s statement came hours after he condemned the manhandling of the cleric by members of the task force.

The governor also said the state government would not compensate owners of the demolished illegal structures.

He said they would instead be asked to pay the government for the cost of demolition since they failed to remove their illegal structures themselves as earlier instructed.

We had asked the people who built on these (drainage) channels to remove them by themselves. Now, they have failed,” he said.

“This demolition is costing us money. It will cost money to take away the debris. By the time we finish, we will put down the cost and send them the bill. They really have to pay for the cost of the demolition,” Mr Soludo added.

The governor noted that rather than seek compensation, the owners of the illegal structures should be concerned with how to compensate families of people who lost their lives during a flood caused by these structures last year.

“They should be apologising to Ndi Anambra and then pay compensation for the people that their actions have led to their deaths,” the governor said.

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