TheCable

Oganihu Ebonyi, a sustainable development group, has asked David Umahi, governor of the state, to provide shelter and compensate residents displaced as a result of the airport project.

TheCable had reported the ordeal of some residents who were forced to give up their lands for the airport project in the state without compensation.

In a statement on Saturday, Laz Eze, convener of the group, and Chinedum Elekwachi, interim publicity secretary, said the state government needs to live up to its primary responsibility which is to ensure the security and welfare of its people.

The group said it is shocked how the government has prioritised the project over the lives of the original inhabitants of the land.

“We commend the infrastructural strides of the Governor Umahi-led administration, the best in the history of the state. However, the projects must not be prioritised over the lives of Ebonyians,” the group said.

“We are terribly shocked to know that an elected government would render its own people homeless and leave them in anguish over a project they are less likely to have a direct benefit. This would worsen the already unacceptably high poverty indices of the state.

“Although the constitution puts all lands under the authority of the governor, such power should be exercised with discretion and a human face. The least we expected was for the state government to build homes and give grants to the members of the community or pay adequate compensation before demolishing their homes.

“Having made the error of putting the cart before the horse and mismanaging the situation, we call on the government to make amends by taking immediate actions to ensure all original inhabitants of the lands taken for the airport project are provided with shelter and means of livelihood within the next one month. Anything short of this would be a demonstration of sheer wickedness against the people.”