Members of the City of Liberation and Comfort International Ministries, Enugu have reacted angrily to the sudden demolition of their place of worship by officials of the Enugu State Government.
The multi-million naira church building was pulled down few hours after last Sunday service by government officials led by a lady, and a team of mobile policemen from Uwani police station.
Enugu has recently been hit by massive demolition over what government termed a move to return the state to its original master plan.
Not long ago, no less than 800 shops were demolished at the Old Motor Park, leaving over 3000 persons and their relations frustrated.
However, in the case of the City of Liberation and Comfort Ministries, authorities of the church insist that there was no justifiable reason to demolish the church, more so, without issuing any form of notice.
The Senior Pastor of the Church, Prophet Dr. Ginika Obi who spoke to journalists at the premises of the church expressed shock at the development, maintaining that the government was fighting God not mortals.
Pastor Obi, looking unperturbed, described the demolition as a promotion for the church, but noted that all the persons involved would not escape God’s anger.
According to him, “few days ago, a lady, that identified herself as Pamela Ikwueze came here and told me the Enugu State commissioner for land, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ujam needed to see me. I got in contact with the commissioner and he gave me an appointment for Friday.
“Surprisingly, four days to the appointment, I got a call that the church was being demolished. Immediately, I put a call across to the commissioner, he boldly told me that he indeed ordered the demolition.
“I was greatly shocked because at no point have we been given any form of notice that this place has been marked for demolition; why couldn’t the commissioner wait at least until after the appointment he has already given me?
“We left the town and came to this desert, yet they pursued us to this place; you can see that this is the only house around here, it is a complete desert but we put in a lot of money to make it what it is today; the place was genuinely obtained on lease from the owner, Chief Christopher Egbo, from Amechi Awkunanaw. All documents pertaining to this land are available, so it is a genuine transaction”.
Asked how he feels about the incident and the way forward for the church, the cleric said, “I feel good because it is not my property, it is God’s house. I feel bad because they have destroyed my father’s property.
“However, nobody does this kind of thing and goes scot free, directly or indirectly, they will pay for it.
“On our own part, it has only made us stronger and to serve God more and more; we are soldiers of Christ; we shall stay outside and have our worship”.
Effort made by DailyPost to get reaction from Ujam proved abortive as did not pick his calls. He also did not react to the text message sent to him mobile phone.
In any case, the last has not been heard about demolition of buildings in the state as the commissioner for capital Territory Development Authority in the state, Engr. Ike Ugwuegede recently said more structures would go down.
He said that the exercise was ongoing and notices had been issued to affected owners, explaining that it was aimed at giving Enugu capital territory a befitting facelift, adding that the areas to be affected include the City Layout, illegal mechanic villages and all those structures built on rail tracks and designated pathways.
The commissioner regretted that although the government was aware of the difficulties the affected persons may undergo, he nonetheless expressed the determination of government to carry on with the exercise.
“Notices were copiously given to the affected for more than 12 months and there have been series of dialogue between government and owners of illegal structures but each time they will ask for time”, the commissioner stated.
He made reference to the demolition of the 829 stalls at the Old Park which displaced over 3000 traders as an example of government’s determination to restructure Enugu for good.
Source: Daily Post
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