Orlu — What is happening to the Imo State House of Assembly or otherwise called Parliamentary Quarters over a year, the occupants were evicted from the place?

This has been the question many concerned Imo State citizens have been asking. Champion in its investigation gathered that the occupants were on October 2, 2008 evicted from the quarters for the reason that the Management of the State Assembly said that they want to renovate the place.

Very unfortunately, the place since a year plus, has remained fallow , not renovated and without activities leading to the dilapidation of the gigantic structures constructed during the Second Republic (1979 - 1983) precisely under the administration late Chief Sam Mbakwe, Ph.D as the Executive Governor of Imo State.

More so, it was gathered that the quarters presently harbour reptiles, armed robbers and kidnappers among others as it is surrounded by thick bush. On the premises of aesthetics, it negates the current philosophy of Clean & Green Initiative (C&GI) campaign of the state government as the place in question is a horrible sight , and at a very strategic site.

It will be pertinent to note at this juncture that the site is adjacent to the five-star hotel , the Concorde and an eyesore as highly placed visitors, who often lodge in the hotel when they come either on official assignment or visit to the state.

The concerned Imo citizens said that they not against the eviction rather they insisted that if the Management of the State Assembly is not yet ready for their plan of renovation, they should allow the occupants to stay; if not for any thing to warm the houses and the quarters.

They queried why the place of such, a state property should and meant for a purpose be allowed to waist when there is dire need for it. They described the action of lower House as being game-man-like adding that it does not aid towards the meaningful development of the state.

On the human side of the story, the type of untold hardship subjected to the occupants during the time in question cannot be over-emphasized. Speaking under the aegis of Staff Welfare Association of IMHA, one of the occupants, who gave his name as Mr. Okechukwu Okoro said that they were on a short notice asked to leave the premises adding that in the bid to retain their jobs they had to force them to taking loans from banks and borrowing from individuals to secure another accommodation.

Considering the fact that getting an accommodation in the state capital is not a tea party as it used to be hitherto, he said those who could not be favoured by the banks or individuals, resorted to coming to work from their respective villages. " The consequent adverse economic effect of workers coming from remote areas to Owerri metropolis and House of Assembly for work to a growing and chequered economy like that of Imo State should be considered", they emphatically noted.

Daily Champion further gathered from him (Okoro) that over 80 per cent of the occupants resolved to take the loans owing to the very short time lag of the notice without knowing the implications of what they went into. He said they are presently enslaved by the banks, who at the end of every month (considering when salaries come) take three quarter (3/4) of their meager salary , leaving them with virtually little or nothing .

Another horrible aspect of the situation that was gathered, at the press time, was that most of them in the process of battling with a new accommodation were duped by house agents. The tragedy became double in the sense that the borrowed money has been lost. It was said that the disorganization caused by this especially to those with family cannot also be over-estimated.

Fielding questions from journalists, Mr. Okoro said when the issue was up , some selected members of the welfare association approached the Management of the lower House not on the premise that they don't want to leave but for financial assistance. It was said the case they made went into deaf ears since nothing came out from it. He further disclosed that after the resettlement , they proffered to the Management for them to assist them in paying off the loans, that is said to elapse next year precisely September, 2010 but nothing tangible has come out of it.

Daily Champion gathered that the current stand of the place in question is that the magnificent storey buildings are now cracking , ceiling sheets sagging , roofs leaking , cobwebs, big spiders and reptiles everywhere , weeds occupying the place meant for human beings and no checks on the site. The large precincts of the quarters now also said to be a hide out for indian hemp and other drug addicts, armed robbers, kidnappers and hatching amorous plans among others.