Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has accused the state government of malice in view of its selective destruction of alleged illegal structures in Aba, saying it was vindictive and targeted at members of the party.
APGA alleged that it was the way the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state was paying back its members and Aba residents who supported the governorship aspirations of Dr. Alex Otti during the last general election.
The state government had through the chairman of Urban Renewal in the state, Solomon Ogunji embarked on demolition of structures, which it alleged were illegally built, in a manner some residents stated was selective.
As stated by Abia State chairman of APGA, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere in a press briefing in Aba, contrary to the reasons given by the state government for demolishing the structures, he noted that at the last count, not less than 50 buildings, fences and other structures owned by APGA sympathizers had been targeted and pulled down by the state government “without any known infractions by their owners nor was notice given to them ahead of the demolition.”
Ehiemere said, “We dare to say that we shall not fold our hands and watch as our members and supporters are terrorized and brutally dealt with by Ikpeazu’s government”, threatening that they were going to explore legitimate means to ensure that they oppose any attempt by the PDP administration in the state to intimidate and attack their (APGA) supporters in Aba and the state in general.
While the state chairman of APGA stated they were not opposed to the process of tackling drainage challenges in Enyimba city, he maintained that the state government should have emulated the steps of neighbouring state governments, who after dialoguing with citizens of their respective states, relocated or compensated them before embarking on such exercise instead of being selective like the case being witnessed in Abia.
“Due process must be followed while demolishing those structures; the owners must be duly informed. Government should discuss with them and if they are going to be relocated they should be well compensated as was done in Akwa Ibom by Godswill Akpabio. Abia is not the only state where construction work is going on,” Ehiemere stated.
The APGA chairman who disclosed that they have reliably gathered that over 100 structures belonging to their members and other people that openly supported APGA have been marked for demolition, called on the Presidency, members of the National Assembly and other well-meaning Nigerians to join them in condemning what they described as the mindless demolition and prevail on Ikpeazu to desist forthwith from the act in order to halt the fear and tension already building up in the polity.
However, the Chief Press Secretary to Ikpeazu, Mr. Godwin Adindu in a press release described the statement by the APGA chairman as misguided and ill-conceived aggression against the government.
As stated by Adindu, “The demolition of illegal shops, kiosk, fences and buildings that encroach into the service lane and on the roads is being carried out only on the roads where the construction work is going on. The notice to this effect was duly served to the public. As far as the government of Abia State is concerned, any structure that contravenes the town planning regulation as regards the appropriate location of buildings and structures is an illegal structure and such buildings must be pulled down by the time the caterpillar gets to the point.”