“At Goodwill Junction, businesswomen, their wares, tables, chairs, and umbrellas, were all destroyed and in most instances set ablaze” —Ebuka Onyekwelu
Following the exceedingly outrageous videos and pictures of the demolition of petty street businesses by the Anambra State Government on Tuesday, it became overwhelmingly necessary to ascertain if what was shown in the video happened in Awka, Anambra State. Many days later, some people are still questioning if the destruction happened in Awka. On Saturday, I spent a considerable amount of time talking with the victims. Tens of petty and small business owners were affected. However, I had the privilege of interfacing with 22 of these small and petty business owners whose wares were destroyed by the enforcement team of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority – ACTDA, for various reasons known or unknown to the victims.
As shocking and provocative as the videos and pictures of this act circulating on social media were, seeing and interacting with the victims revealed a higher level of awful abuses meted against this vulnerable business community in Awka. Talking with these businessmen and women, and going around to observe firsthand the irregular and disorganized pattern of this enforcement by the government, it is clear that what happened on Tuesday was profoundly atrocious; a crude show of force. From Regina Junction to Dr. Okey Anueyiagu Road, down to Goodwill Junction, the story is the same. A story of dismay, destruction, and helplessness.
At Regina Junction, I met Joseph, a graduate of the Institute of Management Technology – IMT, with a Postgraduate Diploma –PGD in Public Administration. He runs a POS business, while his wife sells provisions and bread at the junction in one corner created by the adjourning fence before the drainage and then the express. According to Joseph, ACTDA officials had asked him to move, which prompted him to seek the permission of the owner of the earlier-mentioned property to accommodate him in the free space and the owner did. Only a few weeks ago, another set of ACTDA officials visited and confirmed to him that he was out of harm’s way. Yet, that was where he was when they came and still took all his wife’s wares and burnt them. He also said that he lost about N400,000, which he had just withdrawn from Access Bank that morning and kept in his bag. He lost the money to the chaos that ensued. According to him, ACTDA officers said the money was also burnt. As of Saturday morning, he was back at the spot, doing his POS business as he had nothing else to fall back on. But his wife was nowhere near, as her wares were burnt to ashes. Meanwhile, Joseph said he obtained a loan from Access Bank for his POS business. Right now, he doesn’t know what else to do.
Ifeanyi, a carpenter, whose wife sells provisions and foodstuff in the same shop, located in an adjourning street to Dr. Okey Anueyiagu’s Road, had his shop vandalized, and the wife’s wares destroyed. But right on the Mainstreet, there were still shops that were standing, untouched. Yet, his was destroyed and he wondered why.
Many of the victims alleged corruption. Some say that officers of ACTDA were induced. Along the old INEC road in Awka, the pattern of irregular vandalism varies remarkably. Some of the victims alleged that the enforcement officers were complicit.
Amaka, who is a food vendor inside the garage at Regina Junction, pays her levies to the government. The last time, only recently, she paid N2,500 as an ASWAMA levy. She was stationed inside the garage, yet, her food, table, and chairs were objects of the fury of the government on Tuesday. However, on Saturday morning, she was back at the same spot because there was nothing else, she could do.
At Goodwill Junction, many petty businesswomen were inflicted with losses, as their wares, tables, chairs, and umbrellas, were all destroyed and in most instances set ablaze. This was the story of Mrs. Joy, a food vendor whose food was thrown away. It was the same experience for Madam Catherine, Mrs. Amaka, Mrs. Dorathy, Mrs. Nnenna, Mama Kosi, Mama Chima, Mama Prince, and Mrs. Ifeoma, among many others. They were united in the misery of the government’s brutal enforcement. Many of them are the breadwinners of their homes. Most of them were back on Saturday, just four days later. Not to defile the government, but they genuinely are left with no other alternative.
The government of Anambra State should look into this monumental scandal and try to at least put a human face to governance. Anambra State government must shun all forms of highhandedness and reckless brutality against the governed. In trying to stop the defacement of Awka, people’s lives should not be defaced. The government can restore order without deforming the lives of the governed.
He is a Technical Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, whoonce was a Special Adviser to a former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly. Ebuka is a second class upper division graduate of Political Science from University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science with specialization in Government and Development Studies, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
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