Ebonyi senator refutes community’s claims, says demolition for market remodeling
Senator Dismisses Claims of Personal Gain in Market Demolition
Ebonyi North Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi has rejected allegations that the impending demolition of the Mbeke Isieke Nwori market is motivated by personal interests, asserting instead that the project is aimed at remodeling and modernization.
On Friday, local residents expressed their concerns, stating they have formally petitioned government authorities regarding threats to their safety, forced evictions, and the demolition of homes and businesses linked to the senator’s remodeling plans for the market.
In their petition, community members voiced strong opposition to the redevelopment project, calling for public funds to be redirected toward rural road construction and other essential infrastructure needs.
In response to the residents’ claims, Nwaebonyi, represented by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Romanus Uzor Ozioko, clarified that the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, has legally acquired the land necessary for the market’s reconstruction, as outlined in the Land Use Act.
The statement emphasized that the Mbeke Isieke Nwori market has been designated as a local government market since 1981, following a voluntary land donation from the host community for developmental purposes.
“Nwori Market serves as a key economic hub connecting several communities in Ebonyi and Benue States, and it requires modernization to support the ongoing infrastructural improvements initiated by Governor Nwifuru and the Federal Government,” the statement read.
Furthermore, it was noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the community and the developers, ensuring that all current shop owners will retain their allocated spaces upon the project’s completion.
