Odumeje to Pay for Cost of Demolishing His Church – Soludo

By Ikeugonna Eleke

Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has said that popular pastor, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, who is also known as Odumeje, will pay for the cost of demolishing his church.

Soludo said there were several notices sent to all house owners whose houses were marked for demolition, noting that they were all served notices and asked to remove such structures.

Soludo also said that two parishes of the Catholic Church were still waiting for demolition.

‘It is costing us money. They had several notices to remove such structures, but they refused.

‘The demolition started yesterday (Thursday, July 7), 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 government.

‘Once we are done with this exercise, we will compile the bills and send to the persons involved and they must pay,’ Soludo insisted.

He said the two Catholic parishes involved in the illegal structures demolition were St Dominic’s Catholic Church and Our Lady, Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

He stated that the parish priest of Our Lady, Queen of Peace Catholic Parish was around when the demolition team visited, and even cooperated and also granted an interview.

He regretted that Pastor Odumeje took the law into his hands and attempted to stop the exercise.