Mixed Feelings Thrills Demolition of Sex Workers Home in Ebonyi
By Our Reporter
There was mixed feelings at the popular Spera-in-Deo motor park locates in Abakaliki metropolis, yesterday as the state government embarked on demolition of some shop in the area.
The motor park that housed over one hundred shops which as well serves as pivotal point that connects Onueke,Ogoja,Enugu and the centre of Abakaliki town had suffered ill look for decades but on Wednesday 24th October, 2018, it was demolished by Ebonyi State government under the supervision of Commissioner for Special Project, Hon.Emmanuel Ikechukwu Nwobo.
Hon.Nwobo While addressing newsmen at the site, stated that the Ebonyi State govt led by Engr.David Umahi, after several negotiations with the traders took the decision for the demolition of the motor park, so as to build it in conformity with other parks in the city.
Barr.Nwobo Hinted that the motor park had been in bad shape and did not reflect the face of new Abakaliki capital city, been that it has recently used as dungeon for all sorts of illicit businesses.
"We are trying to renew the face of the urban and the park as they are no longer in conformity with our new Ebonyi,it is on this note that our governor engaged with the traders with discussions who then agreed that we give them the standard which the state requires.
" The place has been a hideout for all sorts of crime including bunk for Indian hemp,prostitution,armed robbers and even posed health hazard for traders even as it gave bad image to the state.
"We did not force them rather, we engaged in negotiations and gave them our design while they build it themselves and we monitor the project to suit our standard.
However, one of the traders who pleaded anonymity revealed that the state government lured them into the renewal of the motor park using trickery manner.
He said that the state governor after his several visits verbally negotiated with them with different options for either demolish and build the shops by the government while they pay the traders off, provided they pay back the money to the government instalmentally or accepting government drafted standard while they build through government supervision.
He said, though, the traders opted for the last option by which they were directed to submit identification of ownership as the negotiations moved from SSA to the governor on security to different offices before the sudden demolition.
He bemoaned that the negotiations were done verbally which made it difficult for the government to stick to its promises among relocating them to a conducive place before the demolition, noting that efforts made for the state to assign memorandum of understanding proves abortive as the requests were denied.
"During our last meeting governor said that there was an illegal structure which we are to relocate to but accidentally, they issued us with 48 hours to pack out,as if it was a joke; we watch our shops destroyed and some gullible stealing our goods.
" They did survey plan without our consent, whereas, made us to pay two hundred thousand naira for the unegotiated plan. They also, asked us to pay bulldozer over one hundred thousand naira on daily basis. We have realized that the government has a hidden agenda to build and sell the shops" . He further said.
Another trader, Mr. Nwannemmadu Amechi, paint seller described the rebuilding of the park as welcome development but frowned upon the standard fixed, noting the current economic situation in the state made it difficult for landlords in the park to meet up with the expectation.
"The standard government brought to us is good but since there is no money in the state it had become difficult for some of us landlord to build our parts.
Mr.Nwannemmadu appealed to the state government to quantify the cost of each shop and reach them back to know if they could afford them or not as not less than thirty Percent could afford to build the given standard.
Also, Mrs.Florence Nwaji, one of the landlords appreciated governor Umahi for his developmental strides in the capital city but said that most of the shop owners cannot afford to build their affected shops as many were there not because of much they are getting but sourcing goods from neighborhood where they raise little money for feeding.
The motor park that housed over one hundred shops which as well serves as pivotal point that connects Onueke,Ogoja,Enugu and the centre of Abakaliki town had suffered ill look for decades but on Wednesday 24th October, 2018, it was demolished by Ebonyi State government under the supervision of Commissioner for Special Project, Hon.Emmanuel Ikechukwu Nwobo.
Hon.Nwobo While addressing newsmen at the site, stated that the Ebonyi State govt led by Engr.David Umahi, after several negotiations with the traders took the decision for the demolition of the motor park, so as to build it in conformity with other parks in the city.
Barr.Nwobo Hinted that the motor park had been in bad shape and did not reflect the face of new Abakaliki capital city, been that it has recently used as dungeon for all sorts of illicit businesses.
"We are trying to renew the face of the urban and the park as they are no longer in conformity with our new Ebonyi,it is on this note that our governor engaged with the traders with discussions who then agreed that we give them the standard which the state requires.
" The place has been a hideout for all sorts of crime including bunk for Indian hemp,prostitution,armed robbers and even posed health hazard for traders even as it gave bad image to the state.
"We did not force them rather, we engaged in negotiations and gave them our design while they build it themselves and we monitor the project to suit our standard.
However, one of the traders who pleaded anonymity revealed that the state government lured them into the renewal of the motor park using trickery manner.
He said that the state governor after his several visits verbally negotiated with them with different options for either demolish and build the shops by the government while they pay the traders off, provided they pay back the money to the government instalmentally or accepting government drafted standard while they build through government supervision.
He said, though, the traders opted for the last option by which they were directed to submit identification of ownership as the negotiations moved from SSA to the governor on security to different offices before the sudden demolition.
He bemoaned that the negotiations were done verbally which made it difficult for the government to stick to its promises among relocating them to a conducive place before the demolition, noting that efforts made for the state to assign memorandum of understanding proves abortive as the requests were denied.
"During our last meeting governor said that there was an illegal structure which we are to relocate to but accidentally, they issued us with 48 hours to pack out,as if it was a joke; we watch our shops destroyed and some gullible stealing our goods.
" They did survey plan without our consent, whereas, made us to pay two hundred thousand naira for the unegotiated plan. They also, asked us to pay bulldozer over one hundred thousand naira on daily basis. We have realized that the government has a hidden agenda to build and sell the shops" . He further said.
Another trader, Mr. Nwannemmadu Amechi, paint seller described the rebuilding of the park as welcome development but frowned upon the standard fixed, noting the current economic situation in the state made it difficult for landlords in the park to meet up with the expectation.
"The standard government brought to us is good but since there is no money in the state it had become difficult for some of us landlord to build our parts.
Mr.Nwannemmadu appealed to the state government to quantify the cost of each shop and reach them back to know if they could afford them or not as not less than thirty Percent could afford to build the given standard.
Also, Mrs.Florence Nwaji, one of the landlords appreciated governor Umahi for his developmental strides in the capital city but said that most of the shop owners cannot afford to build their affected shops as many were there not because of much they are getting but sourcing goods from neighborhood where they raise little money for feeding.
Meanwhile, one of the sex workers (name withdrawn by us) frowned on government action against them, stating that they have no other source of living,therefore, urged the governor to please empower them like other persons he has so far empowered to ameliorate their plight.
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