Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo state, dismissed two of his appointees today: Mbakwe Obi, the general manager of Imo Housing Corporation and special adviser, and Noble Atulegwu, the commissioner for lands, survey, and physical planning.

Cosmos Iwu, the secretary to the Imo state government, confirmed this to reporters in Owerri.

“His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State, has approved the immediate suspension from the office of Hon. Noble Atulegwu, the Commissioner for Lands, Survey, and Physical Planning,” reads the statement.

In a similar vein, His Excellency has authorized Hon. Mbakwe Obi Jr.’s immediate removal from office as SA/GM of Imo Housing Corporation. The most senior officers in their respective offices will receive the two impacted officials’ handover.

However, no reason was stated for their removal , but sources linked their removal to issues of protests over the alleged forceful take over of land of some communities in Imo state.

It should be recalled that there have been protests across Imo communities starting from the council areas of Owerri West, and Owerri North among others continued to protest against the use of government names to take over their lands.

The villagers had among other demands called for the sack of some appointees of Governor Hope Uzodimma over the issue of the alleged takeover of their land.