Prof Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, has stated that popular pastor Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, also known as Odumeje, will pay for the cost of demolishing his church.
Soludo stated on Friday night that several notices were sent to all house owners whose houses were designated for demolition, and that they were all served notices and asked to remove such structures within a timeframe.
Soludo also stated that two Catholic parishes were still awaiting demolition.
“It is costing us money. They had several notices to remove such structures, but they refused.
“The demolition started yesterday (Thursday), and so far so good. The demolition went well, except for Pastor Odumeje, who according to the report drove in, in a brazen manner and attempted to take over the equipment.
“Of course, state work must go on, and security had to stop him. This was a man who was in several meetings we had, and also spoke.
“In fact, this is costing us money, and the structures should have been removed before now, but they chose to test the resolve of the government.
“Once we are done with this exercise, we will compile the bills and send to the persons involved, and they must pay.”
St. Dominic Catholic Church and Our Lady Queen Catholic Church, according to Soludo, are two Catholic parishes involved in the illegal structure demolition.
He claimed that the parish priest of Our Lady Queen Catholic Parish was present when the demolition team arrived, and that he even cooperated and granted an interview.
He regretted the fact that Pastor Odumeje took the law into his own hands and attempted to halt the exercise.
