By Our Reporter
Tension has heightened in Anambra state, following the destruction of Newspapers and beating of vendors in the state on Thursday by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s aides.
They boosted that thé matter should be reported to God for all they care, adding that the state government does not want any Newspaper to be sold again on the streets.
The heaps of papers destroyed were The Nation, The Sun, Vanguard, Punch, Guardian among others.
Soludo’s aides béat up everybody at the popular Aroma junction, along with some security people and destroyed the PoS machines of the vendors too.
The action of men of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority ACTDA, made passersby and petty traders in the area, to rein curses on the operators of such mayhem.
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The dévelopment, has forced the vendors to swore not to sell Newspapers again until Soludo and his agents changed
The tables of the vendors were equally, destroyed while their umbrellas were confisticated by the agents of the government.
Last week, such inhuman treatment by Soludo’s aides attracted the attention of the state lawmakers, who advocated for a mini market to set up for them in the state.
According to the lawmakers, such was to control the menace of street trading and associated effects on the state capital.
The sponsor of the motion was Hon Henry Mbachu, the member representing Awka South 1 Constituency.
While making his submission during plenary , Mbachu, said poverty rate was on the increase, adding that creating avenues for people to earn a living had become mandatory.
“There are many quarters within Awka metropolis which create the need to establish local mini-markets to serve the people living within those areas.
“It is nearly impossible to secure a shop within the already established markets and the limited shops available are in high and exorbitant price to rent.
“The creation of mini-markets within Awka metropolis, will be a solution to solve the menace of shanties, street trading and serve as a means of encouraging micro businesses thereby achieving the goals of making Anambra a livable and prosperous homeland” the lawmaker said
Soludo’s Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, told The Razor, that he was not aware of the situation, but promised to reach out to the MD of the agency.
Aburime, maintained that keeping Anambra clean was for everyone, adding that even in Lagos, Newspaper vendors were allowed to exist at their différent designated areas.
The Razor , overheard one of the ACTDA officials saying, “our Governor is behind what we are doing, if they like, let them report to Tinubu, nothing will happen ”
The destruction had not been against the vendors alone, but to every petty trader along all the streets in Anambra state as part of government’s ‘keep Anambra clean project’
But the reason for the curses on them from the masses was because of it’s crude way of doing it.
