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‘Why We Must Demolish Waterfronts’
Chairman, G-23 Support for Jonathan 2011, Mr Charles Okaye (right) conferring with Hon Emily Solomon, Treasurer, during the state rally conducted by the team at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Monday
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, has explained the rational behind plans to redevelop the waterfronts, saying the area harbours criminals and has to be revamped.
Governor Amaechi said the security of lives and property was paramount to the state following frequent killings and violence recorded in various waterfronts of the city.
Unless the area was demolished, Governor Amaechi said, criminals would still find a safe haven in the city’s fringes where they hide to attack innocent residents of the state.
The state chief executive, who unveiled a new model for the waterfronts during a town hall meeting and meet the people tour in Okrika last week, stated that state-of- the -art buildings are billed to replace the makeshift structures dotting the areas.
Part of the scheme, he told the people, was to construct modern structures with infrastructures and other facilities that would make the waterfronts befitting as found in other city centres.
In his words: “We are moving ahead to demolish the waterfronts. When we finish the demolition, we would do the design and offer for sale to any persons from Okrika to buy”.
Governor Amaechi, who enjoined the Okrika people to rule out ethnic sentiments in the matter, said he wants to ensure even development in all parts of the state.
People say I hate Okrikans, but they do not know that 65 per cent of my friends are Okrikans”, the governor said.
With the government already conducting a census and valuation of properties in the area, Rt Hon Amaechi assured them that adequate compensation would be paid to property owners to pave way for the scheme.
He, however, told the people that the only way the area would not be demolished was by entering into a memorandum of understanding with the government to ensure adequate security, stating, however, that it was impossible considering the reign of lawlessness in the area.
The only solution to crime is to meet the criminals at their base and fight them and for the interest of peace and tranquility of the state, we would demolish the waterfronts, he concluded.