By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Awka
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, an umbrella body of youth groups in the South East geopolitical zone, has condemned the demolition of Wolliwo markets in Onitsha, Anambra State.
According to COSEYL, the markets was demolished by the Anambra State Physical and Town Planning Authority (ASPTPA), a state government agency, on Wednesday 24 November, 2021.
"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. These demolition has led to hardship to so many petty traders who depend 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. We are all aware that the present economic situation in the country is biting hard on so many families and demolition of the only source of lively for the poor and downtrodden is insensitivity on the part of the state government. The traders who trade in Wolliwo Markets are people who really needs assistants from the government to make ends meet.
"They are poor and downtrodden. Demolition of their only source of livelihood means to send them to meet their maker when their time is not due. Information available to us shows that some of the traders are hospitalized and taking treatments in various hospitals . Even the Holy Bible admonishes us to take care of the poor ones among us. These action by ASPTPA is totally condemnable.