A group, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has called on Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano to urgently intervene in the demolition of Woliwo Market in Onitsha.
The group said it was wrong for government to displace traders from their source of daily bread without notice.
Some members of a task force believed to be working for the Anambra State government had on Saturday stormed Woliwo Market in Onitsha and demolished shops belonging to traders, without notice.
In a press release by the President General of the group, Mr Goodluck Ibem, the group lamented that the destruction was coming less than three weeks after traders in the state defied insecurity to come out and vote for Prof. Chukwuma Soludo who was a candidate of the rulling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The group in the press release said: “We are displeased over the demolition of Wolliwo markets along Port Harcourt road in Onitsha on Wednesday 24 November, 2021 by Anambra State Physical and Town Planning Authority, ASPTPA.
“These demolition has led to hardship to so many petty traders who depends on daily sales and income from the market to feed their families. It is a very wrong way to say ‘thank you’ to Ndi-Anambra for voting Prof. Charles Soludo in the last gubernatorial election in the state.”
The release further said: “Despite the politically sponsored killings and destructions in the state by non-state actors aimed to intimidate Ndi-Anambra from coming out to vote so that they manipulate the electoral process. Ndi-Anambra stood firmly behind their Governor Willie Obiano.
“It is even on record that a woman who is a trader rejected N5000 given to her to vote against her conscience and preferred candidate.
“We call on the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano to intervene and save his people from more hardship as the ASPTPA has also promised to come back on Tuesday 30th November, 2021 to demolish more markets.”
