A cross section of Imo people have reacted in different ways to the prevailing trend that has seen over five substandard projects built by the former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha reduced to rubbles by the Hope Uzodinma administration in quick succession.
While some are commending Governor Uzodinma for doing the right thing on the ground that some of the demolished poorly consructed projects were nothing but imminent death traps, hence demolishing them would avert tragedy.
Others are of the opinion that there is need for continuity, hence Uzodinma, according to them, ought to have renovated and made them stronger and better, considering the fact that demolishing them outrightly like he did is a colossal waste of public funds. They also argued that the money that would be spent in rebuilding them would have been channeled into other meaningful ventures that would benefit the people.
Those who support renovation instead of demolition posited that the Imo International Conference Center ( IICC) gulped billions of the states resources, while the new police headquarters and the prison headquarters located along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, were reportedly built at the cost of 23 billion Naira each as at that time pointing out that they would cost more than that to build with the current rate of inflation. They wondered why the Governor takes delight in wasting the resources of the state on frivolities, including traveling in chartered flights that cost millions while his counterparts like Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, the former Governor of Anambra state and presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, among others travel just like any person to save cost.
