Gov Okorocha Restores Assumpta Avenue, Owerri

The Imo State Government has corrected what it called the “error” or oversight of “wrongly installing a street sign suggesting (the) renaming” of Assumpta Avenue. It has equally apoligised for the very unpopular action.

Assumpta Avenue which was named after Maria Assumpta Cathedral of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese was reportedly changed to Muhammadu Buhari Road by Governor Rochas Okorocha.  

*Gov Rochas Okorocha

In a statement issued in Owerri by the state commissioner for information, Professor Obiaraeri N.O, the government informed the general public that the street’s name, Assumpta Avenue, remains unchanged.

It would be recalled that the decision of Governor Okorocha to rename the street drew the ire of the Roman Catholic community in Owerri and across the nation.

An analyst who spoke to our reporter thinks the decision to revert to the old name must have been informed by the realization of Gov Okorocha and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that the political cost of that change of name could be grave.

Negative reactions to that action trended in the social media for quite a while.   

Below is the full text of the statement: 

Press Release

Okporo Uzo Assumpta/Assumpta Avenue, Owerri, Stays

This is to inform the public and particularly the highly respected body of Roman Catholic Faithfuls in Imo State and beyond that OKPORO UZO ASSUMPTA or ASSUMPTA AVENUE Owerri stays.

At all material times, it was never the intention of the Imo State Government to rename the said strategic road which spans from ASSUMPTA CATHEDRAL (beginning from the HOLY FAMILY statue built by the Rescue Mission Government) and terminating at Warehouse House Roundabout Owerri.

OKPORO UZO ASSUMPTA or ASSUMPTA ROAD AVENUE is symbolic for both religious and historic reasons in Imo State and these facts are not lost on the Government and people of Imo State.

All inconveniences occasioned by the initial oversight or error of wrongly installing a street sign suggesting a renaming of the street is highly regretted.

Imo Must Be Better.

Prof Obiaraeri N.O.
Honourable Commissioner For Information, Imo State.