The Imo State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a motion for the renaming of the popular Douglas Road to Governor Hope Uzodimma Road.

The lawmakers passed the motion at the resumption of sitting after about three months break to direct the State government which will in turn direct the Executive chairman Of Owerri Municipal Local Government Council to rename the road after Uzodimma.

The house resolved to direct the relevant agencies of Government to reflect the new name in all records, signage, and official documents of the state.

The motion was sponsored by the member representing Nkwerre State constituency, Hon. Chisom Ojukwu.

While moving the motion, Hon. Ojukwu regretted that Harold M. Douglas, the first District Commissioner Of Owerri Province (1902) in whose honour Douglas road was named after in both official colonial records and oral traditions was a man who ruled with violence, forced labour, collective punishment and massacres, including the Eziama Massacre (1904), the war on Norie (1905) and the Ahiara Massacre (1905).

Ojukwu said in spite of the history of oppression, the most prominent road and the seat of Government in Owerri were named after Harold M. Douglas, Douglas Road and Douglas House, to immortalize a colonial figure who inflicted pain and destruction on Ndi Igbo.

According to him, landmarks of such importance should not honour colonial masters but should reflect the names of the true heroes in the state.

He said, “Douglas Road should be renamed to Governor Hope Uzodimma because he has performed very well in every sector.”

The Deputy Speaker, Amara Iwuanyanwu, while supporting the motion, said that the Douglas Road should be renamed after Governor Hope Uzodimma because the State Governor had performed well in every sector.

According to him, Uzodimma ought to be appreciated for his good work in the state while alive, saying the only way to demonstrate the love Imo People have for him is to immortalize his name with landmark projects like the road. (The PUNCH)

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