The Peoples Democratic Social gathering, PDP, Imo State chapter, has accused Governor Hope Uzodinma of utilizing the Environmental Transformation Fee, ENTRACO, towards the residents of the state.
The accusation adopted the current demolition of Toronto Junction Market in Owerri North LGA the place items and properties had been destroyed with many individuals injured.
The get together alleged that ENTRACO, below the Uzodinma administration, has grow to be a terrorist group in disguise, warning that if nothing is finished urgently to handle its current actions, it might snowball into one thing extra harmful.
Elements of a press release issued by its spokesperson, Lancelot Obiaku, learn, “What occurred alongside Toronto/MCC Street, few days in the past, as captured by a CCTV digital camera, is nothing in need of terror. We watched as males armed with cutlasses, bottles, and different harmful weapons pounced on motorists and merchants.
“We make daring to say that this isn’t enforcement. It’s violence. Any armed group that unleashes concern and bodily hurt on residents, irrespective of the identify it bears, suits the outline of a terrorist group. And our concern is that these males function below the safety of the Authorities.”
The get together, whereas condemning the actions of the fee, asserted that ENTRACO was by no means designed to be aggressive in its operations.
PDP famous that the Fee was established in 2008 for the only real objective of beautifying and sustaining a clear, inexperienced and wholesome atmosphere within the state, together with overseeing sanitation, cleansing of gutters, planting of flowers and timber, and different efforts focused at creating an atmosphere wholesome for human habitation.
The get together recalled that in the course of the administration of Governor Ikedi Ohakim, below whose watch the Fee was established, that town was clear, and the individuals had been at peace with the company’s actions.
It regretted that recently, for the reason that appointment of 1 Mr. Anyahie as Chairman of the Fee, the company has drifted from its founding objective.
“As a substitute of cleansing and beautifying the State, it has grow to be a supply of day by day torment to motorists, merchants, and small enterprise homeowners.
“Imo PDP wonders how the Imo State Visitors Administration Company, ISTMA, which already exists and which is empowered by legislation to deal with visitors and parking violations shall be in operation, whereas ENTRACO takes up the enterprise of wielding cutlasses and chasing drivers throughout town and state,” the assertion added.
The get together expressed fear that as if what ENTRACO is doing shouldn’t be sufficient, the state governor additionally empowered considered one of his aides to maneuver about with fierce wanting males who wield all types of weapons within the identify of monitoring and analysis.
PDP alleged that with the present strikes, the federal government is not directly encouraging banditry and cultism.
*We hope that after they metamorphose to full blown terrorists, the federal government won’t flip round and accuse the opposition events of sponsoring terrorism within the state, because it has at all times, irrationally, achieved.
“We insist that if by any means the federal government has given ENTRACO authority they have to perform their duties with respect for human dignity. Using violence towards residents runs opposite to the oath the Governor took to guard lives and property in Imo State and the legislation establishing the Fee.”
PDP additional recalled that simply two months in the past, Naze youths blocked the ENTRACO workplace in protest over the killing of their brother in an accident attributable to the operatives of the Fee.
It identified that in different states and cities, visitors offences are curtailed with out cruelty.
“The Abia State Harmonized Process Forcr, ASHTF, enforces order firmly however humanely. Their officers are skilled, they usually hear. You possibly can cause with them. They don’t behave like avenue thugs, cultists and terrorists.
“It’s due to this fact a disgrace that the identical can’t be stated of ENTRACO officers who appear to derive pleasure from inflicting ache. This isn’t good for a State as soon as identified for its civility and love for schooling.
“Allow us to make it clear, the courageous resistance of youths alongside MCC Street, which sadly led to bloodshed, ought to function a warning.
“When authorities companies grow to be a supply of oppression, the individuals will finally rise in self-defense. If nothing is finished to test the excesses of ENTRACO, we concern that sooner or later the state of affairs might escalate past management,” the assertion confused.
PDP referred to as on the governor to cease ENTRACO from harassing and destroying the companies of petty merchants who do enterprise with out obstructing motion.
PDP maintained that victims of the actions of the Fee are individuals solely making an attempt to fend for his or her households however regretted that they’re continually chased, overwhelmed, and stripped of their trades.
As well as, it referred to as for the employment of proper individuals and correct coaching of officers employed for any form of enforcement within the state, advising that if any authorities company should implement a coverage, it should strategy it by way of engagement with the individuals straight affected and all stakeholders.
“That is what the PDP will do if it had been in energy within the state. The thought of waking up one morning to begin the destruction of individuals’s technique of livelihood have to be shunned.
“Imo individuals solely need to dwell in a clear and orderly metropolis, sure, however not in concern. They need to respect the legislation, however not at the price of their dignity and security. ENTRACO should, due to this fact, be reined in and redirected to its unique obligation which is environmental transformation, not intimidation.”
