Rivers APC Berates Wike Over Demolition Of Spare Parts Market, Says Traders Deserve Respect
The All Progressive Congress (APC) has expressed “serious concern” over the fate of traders who have lost their shops at the Ikoku Spare Parts Market with no alternative means of livelihood.
The traders who were issued eviction notices in August, on Monday watched as their business outlets were destroyed by the new owners.
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But the APC in a statement released by the Rivers State Publicity Secretary, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, said it was shocked that appropriate steps were not taken to relocate the traders before their shops were destroyed.
He said, “Our sympathy is with all traders whose shops have been destroyed at the instance of an investor whose background is unknown.
“We know that you are in great pain at this time. Some of you probably have nowhere to safeguard your wares. Your shops meant everything to you.
“We ought to operate a system that is kinder and humane, a system which understands that traders like other individuals make contributions to the growth of the society. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.
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“We had hoped that the Governor of Rivers would have intervened to ensure that the traders were properly relocated before their shops were demolished.
“In our view, these traders would have been given a little more time to move to alternative places. We are aware that Government has offered a spot at Iriebe to the traders. How ready is the place in terms of security and the provision of other infrastructure required to receive the embattled traders?”
The APC said those who work to earn a living deserve respect, adding,”We have a lot of regard for all those who are struggling to earn a living. They contribute to our GDP as a nation and take care of the family unit which is the bedrock of any country.
“This is why the APC led Federal Government has invested efforts in supporting SMEs and small time traders through schemes that offer financial opportunities in order to ensure that they survive in these hard times,”Nwuke said.
