Anambra state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo is having a hectic time in building a modern Anambra state of his dream. OKECHUKWU ONUEGBU takes a look at divergent views of residents.
Awka, the capital of Anambra state is currently wearing a new look. In terms of infrastructure, there are various ongoing road and housing projects in the capital city.
Developmental projects
One of them is the new Government House and Governor’s Lodge or three arms zone springing up behind Alex Ekwueme square by Aroma junction. The project abandoned for about 20 years was kick-started by the governor amidst tears of joys from the public. While stakeholders were happy over the recommencement of the three arms zone, the landlords displaced by the development, especially an activist, Comrade Osita Obi whose already completed residential building was pulled down without compensation is still shedding tears that government is yet to reach out to him.
Other government projects in Awka are renovations of the state House of Assembly, road rehabilitation and asphalts linking the capital city to neighbouring communities, move to build a new Awka capital territory and ongoing efforts to end street trading, hawking and open defecation.
The state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo had declared war on street trading, emphasising the need for organised markets and construction of a modern fruit and vegetable market to relocate street vendors. Soludo urged the newspapers vendors in the state to relocate their business to shops and stop displaying newspapers in public places in Awka.
But of all the governor’s projects, the ban on street trading, hawking and open defecation appeared to be generating more concerns because of many reasons. One, the projects is ongoing concurrently across the state, especially at Onitsha, Nnewi and Ekwulọbịa axis where massive infrastructure projects are also ongoing. At Onitsha and Ogbaru axis for instance, the government urged the landlords to embark on repainting their houses, an exercise many are yet to commence given the fact that it could lead to increase in cost of rent. Besides this, the government has shut down some markets for allegedly violating environmental law even as Special Anambra State Anti-Touting Squad (SASA), a government agency trying to stop touting, is accused of human rights violation.
Any excesses?
The agency was however alleged to be responsible for killing one Arinze Obuladike, a drug dealer at Ogbo-ogwu, Onitsha, who was allegedly shot where he was urinating in an open space. The state government however denied being responsible.
Again, ban on street trading is receiving serious condemnation because many small businesses like newspapers stands, fruits and vegetables sellers, Point on Sale (POS) operators, among others were affected. The governor had through the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) demolished shanties, pulled down illegal structures and entrances built on roads and drainages within the Awka. Viral videos showed how some wares were either set on fire by the enforcement team of ACTDA.
In justification
The managing director of ACTDA, Osita Onuko, who said there was no going back on the policy, described it as effort to give Anambra a healthy, environmentally friendly and befitting capital city.
“We have had sensitisation campaigns, stakeholders’ engagement and advocacy on why people who display wares on the roads, those who trade on walkways in Awka Capital Territory should leave those places but it has been a running battle. We understand the narrative the economy is bad, people are struggling to survive but we have to sanitise the environment. Where there is government, we have to ensure there is law and order. There are places meant for trading, government cannot go into a market and start demolishing it, so we are saying that abuse of our environment is not acceptable for the dignity of our state and safety of our people,” he noted.
Condemnations
But some of those affected by the ban, including Mrs Nancy Madugwunnahad and Ms Chiamaka Eyim were displeased that the enforcement teams of ACTDA who allegedly snatched and destroyed their POS machines. Eyim alleged that her PoS machine was collected from her by the enforcers when she was trying to run away from them and was damaged immediately. Maduagwunna’s case was a double tragedy because where she displays and sells newspapers at Arroma junction was shutdown by the enforcement team who insisted that she must rent shops for her businesses. She added that the team confiscated copies of different newspapers worth over N85,000, destroyed her kiosks and tables.
She lamented saying, “I have been in this business for many years and no government has stopped us from displaying newspapers at the Aroma junction newspapers stand. This news stand is older than Anambra state. I have not heard about newspapers vendors renting shops to sell papers. What is Soludo government trying to achieve by trying to stop sale of newspapers in Awka? Why is the government pursuing us out of public display of papers?”
A group, Forum of Labour Party 2023 House of Assembly candidates in the state condemned the act, describing it as dictatorial. In a statement by its spokesperson, Mr Humphrey Iloh, it urged the state government to stop forthwith otherwise they would approach the court and seek for an order to compel the state assembly to commence impeachment process on the governor.
“We the members of the Forum Of Labour Party 2023 House of Assembly Candidates condemn in its entirety these double tragic and unfortunate acts by Prof Soludo-led government and other previous actions, which is a clear indication that Anambra state is now under a dictatorial regime. “Anambra of today is not the friendly and peaceful Anambra that the previous governments left for Prof Chukwuma Soludo. His current style of governance is totally against Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 which declares that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” they said.
Soludo’s CPS speaks
However, the press secretary to Soludo, Mr Christian Aburime urged the vendors to obey the instructions of ACTDA and move to shops because even though the state government understands the vital role the media plays in a healthy democracy and appreciates the contributions of news vendors, it cannot allow any act of violations of public order on street vending.
“Awka Capital Territory, like any other capital city, has its masterplan for proper development and it is the government’s primary responsibility to ensure public safety and order for all residents and visitors within the city. Unfortunately, unregulated street vending, particularly on major roads, has become a public nuisance whereby vendors occupying roadways not only deface the environment but also impede the free flow of traffic, causing delays and frustration for commuters. “Therefore, the Awka Capital Territory Development Agency (ACTDA) has undertaken efforts to address the problem by restricting the activities of news vendors to designated areas. The vendors kept disregarding the regulations and plying their trade on roadways, selling not only newspapers but also dealing in POS business, snacks and soft drinks.
“When they were raided to keep their wares off the roads, they resorted to blackmail, insinuating the raids were targeting newspapers that are critical of Governor Charles Soludo and his policies. It is important to clarify that the ACTDA regulations are not targeted at suppressing media freedom or unfairly impacting vendors’ livelihoods; rather, they are aimed at ensuring public safety and the continuation of legitimate economic activity in the right manner. In all, Anambra state government remains committed to open dialogue and constructive engagement with all stakeholders, including news vendors,” he stated.
Applause(s)
Some residents have also hailed the governor’s decision and warned political oppositions not to mobilise against the government because of what they termed efforts to give the capital city a facelift. One of them, Mr Amanna Nwokike said development comes in both negative and positive ways, hence the need for residents to comply with the directives irrespective of their trade. Also speaking, Mr John Akubueze, who described himself as an ardent newspaper reader, said although he visits news stands on daily basis, he is in support as according to him, there should be no sacred cow when a government agency barks on any exercise aimed at sanitising the streets.
According to Akubueze, vendors should allow the government to remodel Awka into a modern city than what it used to be in the past.
Another respondent, Mr Obiora Okoye said its an impactful project by ACTDA without collecting kickbacks and turning blind eye to anyone or group.
“Mr Osy Onuko, the managing director of ACTDA being a son of the soil has proved that government agency can embark on an activity and carry it out without fear or favour. I hail him. We are in support of him in this good project,” he noted.
To a public affairs analyst, Ozor Obi Ochije Moudilim, allegations and blackmail by some displaced persons within the state capital would not stand because politicising a well thought out government plan for mere self interests by private individuals amounts to nothing. According to him, the people should rather support Governor Soludo’s administration as he makes frantic effort to develop Awka Capital Territory into a liveable prosperous homeland that would be of interest to all.
“You cannot leave your stand and display on the road and when the government asks you to move out, you say they are chasing you. The governor cannot be doing a good job by constructing roads and then allow shanties, wares and goods to be littered on all the junctions and streets,” he added.
Another Awka resident, Daniel Umenwa, chided the vendors for indulging in other businesses, including selling of fruits, POS business and also accommodating others who end up littering the bus stops, thereby obstructing free traffic flow.
