Hard times await Rivers people…as Wike goes after Iriebe estate residents

More hard times await Rivers people as Governor Nyesom Wike bares his fangs on them. The latest victims of his onslaught are residents of the State Housing Estate at Iriebe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area many of whom have been ordered to vacate their apartments with immediate effect.

Enigma Reports gathered that Wike ordered the immediate eviction of illegal occupants of the Estate when he went on an unscheduled inspection of the estate. The State Commissioner for Housing, Emma Okah conducted the Governor round the estate.

Many of the supposed “illegal occupants” are those suspected to be supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State or civil servants who are sympathetic to the opposition.  

Issuing the order, the Governor directed Okah to take immediate measures to eject illegal occupants as part of efforts to recover the properties belonging to the state government.

 According to him, “it was regrettable that squatters took over flats built by previous administration without following due process.

The Commissioner for Housing is hereby directed to immediately take possession of the housing estate and evict the squatters. It is surprising that all these residents are staying here illegally”.

He expressed satisfaction with the level of work done on the 50 additional flats being constructed by the State government, insisting that quality work must be done.

He directed that the ministry should provide the needed basic amenities required by residents of the estate, noting that a health centre, school, police post, potable water and electricity must be provided in the estate.

While conducting the Governor round the estate, Emma Okah, said the 50 flats would be completed by end of August, explaining to the Governor that the occupants of the structures completed by previous administrations were squatters, who took possession of the estate without paying rent.

 
Lamenting their ordeal to Enigma Reports, some of the residents explained that they acquired the apartments they now occupy through the balloting done by the State Civil Service and are not illegal occupants in any way. Appealing to the Governor not to plunge them into further suffering by evicting them from their homes.