Respite came the way of worshippers at Emmanuel Anglican church, Okoro ­Nu-Odo Deanery as there is strong indication that Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has no agenda to demolish the church’s magnificent edifice after-all.

The church’s Rector, Venerable Israel Omosioni (JP), said that Amaechi’s plan is how to decongest the heavy traffic at Rumuokoro roundabout and make life less stressful for passers-by through other developmental strategy.

In an exclusive interview with The Tide, Omosioni said the completion of Eliozu fly over project and Ada-George Road project around Obiri-Ikwerre are some of Amaechi’ s developmental strategies to reduce heavy traffic flow at Rumuokoro roundabout.

In his visit to the church, on June 27, 2009, Governor Amaechi had said “what will be my benefit if the church edifice is demolished. One plan right now is to ensure the completion of the Eliozu fly over project and the Ada­George road project. The moment that is achieved, we hope that traffic at Rumuokoro roundabout will be considerably reduced.” The Governor was accompanied on the visit by Most Rev’d Ignatius Kattey, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province and Bishop of Niger Delta North Diocese.

Drawing his strength from the pronouncement of Governor Amaechi, the cleric wondered how some individuals could go ahead to discredit the Governor against the church of God.

Omosioni, who said the problem of the heavy traffic at Rumuokoro junction especially during evening period was community-based, and not the church, explained that some people of the community collect tolls and levies from motorists and traders for packing or trading along the road to catch prospective customers.

The cleric said while the church was prepared to cooperate with the state government in its development efforts, the sacrifices of Emmanuel Church would be rubbished if its staff quarters will go down for new class-room blocks

Omosioni acknowledged that both the church and primary school can co-exist for the interest of the people, adding it would be more beneficial to build the planned additional class-room blocks to either Rumuagholu or Rumuodomaya to save the playground (pitch) from further encroachment even as the action would facilitate the move to shift the pole of development to neighbouring communities.

The cleric made strong case for government to spare the football pitch in its development agenda, noted that it is the only playground for the church, community and schools both private and public in the area.

He noted that government’s new plan to construct additional class-room blocks was based on a wrong information that the population at Rumuokoro Primary School is about 1,500 pupils when it is less than 500.