From Ifeoma Ejiofor Nnewi
The administration of Prof Charles Soludo has again come under intensive criticism for destruction of goods belongings to petty traders in Awka, the Anambra State Capital.
Sources claimed that there was massive destruction of traders’ wares on Oby Okoli and Abakiliki Streets by officials of Awka Capital Territory Development Agency (ACTDA).
“Unlike other times when they used to confiscate people’s goods, today’s own, they confiscated and immediately set them ablaze.
“I think Soludo is heartless if he actually sent those people. We are complaining of hardship and how we can survive, and here, they are burning our goods. This is unfair,” a victim said.
A human rights activists, Comrade John Okechukwu who claimed to have witnessed the whole episode condemned Gov Soludo for taking such a decision.
He said, “I am not supporting street trading but the truth is that the government has not provided an alternative for the traders to do carry out their business in the affected areas.
“To make matters worse, they so called enforcement officers have been shooting sporadically to scare the traders, that is barbaric to say the least. What happens if someone is mistakenly hit by a stray bullet?
“The managers of the incumbent administration are shameless, how can they be destroying wares of old women who are selling food condiments, they just destroyed their goods, and when people wanted to intervene, they started shooting.
“If Gov Charles Soludo is actually the one who ordered this destruction in the current state of Nigeria’s economy, then something must be terribly wrong.”
Also commenting on the development, the lawmaker representing Awka North and South LGA in the green chamber of the National Assembly, Prof Oby Lilian Orogbu described the reckless destruction of traders’ wares as unfortunate.
She said, “iThis is a barbaric and wicked act that shows no regard for the plight of the poor masses who are striving to make ends meet in this time of economic hardship. It is also a violation of the fundamental human rights of the traders to earn a living and provide for their families.”
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu could not be reached for government’s side of the story.
