Abuja – December 14, 2023 – Viewpoint Housing News.
Governor Alex Otti has been encouraged by the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to postpone the planned demolition of unlawful structures in Umuahia’s capital city until after the holiday season in order to prevent exacerbating the already severe economic hardship that the populace is presently experiencing.
In a statement, the APGA’s State Publicity Secretary, attorney Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, stated that, while the State Government was entitled to the right to cleanse buildings inside the metropolis, the timing would rather cause further suffering for the populace.
In order to give the impacted parties time to make adjustments, the party suggested delaying the exercise until the first quarter of the next year.
APGA, Abia State chapter hereby cautions the administration of Abia State, led by Dr. Alex Otti, not to add to the miseries of the collective population of Abia residents during this Christmas season, according to a portion of the statement.
“There is no doubt that the businesses owned by Abia residents along Isi Gate, Cooperative, Uzuakoli Road, and Aba Road—all located inside Umuahia—are contained within the facilities the government plans to demolish within Isi Gate and its surrounds.
“APGA is not against the State government’s decision to demolish all illegal structures within the state capital as a political party and a significant opposition party in the state.”But given the extreme economic hardship that Nigerians, including Abians, are experiencing, APGA questions why the State Government would want to carry out the aforementioned demolition at this crucial juncture, when people are struggling to see what they can make out of their respective businesses in order to enable them to feed their families.
“APGA, hereby, cautions Alex Otti-led government in Abia State to suspend the planned demolition which according to government would commence by next week so as to avert the imminent and obvious hardship it will unleash on Abia citizens doing businesses within the affected areas.
“The said exercise is ill-timed as destroying peoples businesses this Christmas season is tantamount to sending them to their early graves which will further add to the pains and or exacerbate the sufferings of many families.
“It is not in doubt that there are over 100 thousand Abians being fed by the trading going on within Isi gate and its environs and statistics has shown that those trading within the Isi gate come from different parts of Abia State including Aba, Ukwa, Arochukwu and Umunneochi respectively and they come on daily basis just in an effort to feed their respective families and dependent relatives.
“APGA therefore wondered if the State government under Alex Otti has critically considered what will be the end result of dislodging and dislocating over 500 businesses within the affected areas within this Christmas season, especially considering the fact that people are much more expectant of business gains within their business locations during Christmas season.
“Government should therefore, as a matter of urgency and to save lives suspend its planned demolition this year. We advise that same should be shifted next year for the interest of millions of Abians who will be affected by the said decision.”
APGA further advised Government to provide alternate markets where it wants relocate the affected traders before finally embarking on the exercise.
“It is not enough to ask traders to move into designated markets without the government playing its role of making such markets conducive for business transactions/ trading. The beauty of democracy remains in the freedom of speech and good governance is rooted on government listening to popular and genuine opinions within a political system.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, has in response, said that Government would apply human face in going about the exercise.
He said that Otti’s administration is very considerate and would always prioritize the good of the people, but warned that no one should contravene the law.
