By METROWATCH
Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) has criticised the gale of demolitions of residential houses in Enugu City and the ancient market in Nsukka by the government of Peter Mbah just to set up his so-called bus garages or parks.
Arguing that it amounts to irresponsibility, insensitivity and absolutely unconscionable for a government purportedly elected by the electorate to introduce extensive and coordinated demolitions of houses of the same electorates for no justifiable reasons only because the government plans to build such white elephant projects like a bus park even as the Rights group has asked Peter Mbah to have a rethink and discontinue these IRRESPONSIBLE demolitions that are hurtful to the good people of Enugu State.
The Rights group said, the state of Enugu has large enough lands lying fallow in different parts of the state whereby the state government can lawfully acquire from the natives so as to build those projects rather than embark on activities that cause maximum displeasure, discomfort and render homeless and jobless, thousands of the same electorate who elected Peter Mbah as governor for four years.
“These demolitions seem like a collective punishment from a governor who feels that the electorate didn’t actually vote for him because if Peter Mbah appreciates deep inside of his heart that he legitimately won that election, there is no reason why he should turn back and subject the people who voted him into office into intolerable hardships even amidst widespread rejection by the people”.
HURIWA recalled that from every conceivable observations, it is clear that genuine landlords and tenants of Amesi street in Abakpa Nike Enugu and the adjoining streets have appealed to the governor of Enugu state, Barrister Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, to save their houses from demolition.
About 30 residential buildings, most of which are mainly two to three storey structures, were marked for demolition by the Enugu East Town Planning Authority (ESTPA).
The notice of the demolition was pasted on the buildings on Saturday evening telling the people to vacate their abode within 72 hours.
Touched by this unbecoming development, the residents of Amesi Street called on Governor Mbah to come to their rescue over the unexpected planned demolition.
Addressing journalists on the issue, a tenant, Mr. Innocent Okolie, lamented that the residents were predominantly retired civil and public servants and as such government should consider the plight they could face in the face of demolition without alternative accommodation and compensation.
“We appeal to the Executive Governor of Enugu State to call his officials to order over this matter. We appeal that due process should be followed in consulting with landlords and tenants to agree on acceptable frame to vacate the area if need be.
HURIWA recalled that thousands of traders and workers at the popular Ogige Market at the University of Nigeria community, Nsukka, were Tuesday seen hurriedly evacuating their goods out of the market to beat the 72 hours’ exit notice given to them by the state.
A majority of the shops at the market were locked while the ones opened were being cleared of goods by their owners.
Thousands of traders and workers at the popular Ogige Market at the University of Nigeria community, Nsukka, were Tuesday seen hurriedly evacuating their goods out of the market to beat the 72 hours’ exit notice given to them by the state.
A majority of the shops at the market were locked while the ones opened were being cleared of goods by their owners.
“We were given 72 hours to leave,” a trader was heard complaining. “It was November this year that they earlier gave us. But this one is very sudden. Most of the shops locked are already empty.”
HURIWA said: “We call on governor Peter Mbah to stop inflicting hardships on Enugu people and look for undeveloped lands in Enugu state to build those projects. Mathematically, it is more beneficial for the Enugu state governor to upgrade the existing markets, modernise these structures, introduce modern infrastructures to boost commerce and trades than to knock down existing markets, displace thousands of traders, throw them into the job markets just because the government plans to build motor park that only fewer persons like drivers and touts will benefit.
“Markets employ more citizens than motor parks. The economic dynamics should guide the Enugu state governor in making these rash of decisions with far reaching impacts on the well-being and welfare of hundreds of thousands of people. The people are the owners of the Sovereignty of Nigeria and it is from the people that the governor got the legitimacy to exercise authority over Enugu state.”
HURIWA alternatively calls on the people to peacefully demonstrate against this anti-people policies and not sit back and allow their human rights been Gravely denied. The people can also seek legal redress because the opposition politicians in Enugu are totally not available to fight for their people and are only waiting for election period to canvass the votes of the same masses that the government is oppressing at these moments without them intervening.
