Cornelius Nnaji, the member representing Enugu-East and Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, has condemned the recent demolition of the perimeter fence of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu by people allegedly acting on the orders of John Emejulu, an architect.
The lawmaker spoke to reporters in Enugu on Sunday after inspecting the extent of damage at the airport fence and other private residences after the Airport Extension Layout.
Mr Emejulu had allegedly ordered the demolition of the airport fence and some private residential buildings within the lawmaker’s constituency on Aug 11.
Mr Nnaji said the demoliton was a barbaric act that was tantamount to national sabotage. “Nobody from my community is happy with what happened. Everybody here condemned the act,” said Nnaji.
“Architect John Emejulu, the alleged demolisher, didn’t stop at maliciously destroying Federal Government property, he went ahead and demolished people’s property. He demolished people’s structures at this critical period when everybody is managing financially due to the COVID-19.
“We are not only talking about the perimeter fence of the Airport, people’s buildings were demolished and this is not the first time he is demolishing people’s buildings.
“These less privileged people that have no voice, he maliciously demolished their building as well, are people from my constituency and I must speak for them,” the lawmaker, who is a former Chairman of Enugu East council area, said.
Nnaji, who is a prince from the royal family of Nnaji who are the original owners of the disputed land, said that Mr Emejulu had no land at the airport or its extension.
“I want to say it categorically that Emejulu doesn’t own a land in that place. Secondly, the area we are talking is Airport road extension which I know the government duly took over for extension of Akanu Ibiam International Airport; and by virtue of land act, government owns every land.
“So, that land in question doesn’t belong to Emejulu that can warrant him going there to destroy government properties which all of us condemned in its entirety,” he added.