The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu has lashed out at Governor Peter Mbah over the ongoing demolition of property in parts of Enugu state for construction of proposed bus terminals.
The party which conducted a tour of the demolition sites in the state capital, described the exercise as ill conceived, and an “economic terrorism on the people of Enugu State.
Addressing newsmen during the tour of the demolition sites on Tuesday, the State chairman of the party, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah, called on the House of Representatives to invoke its powers to set up an administrative panel of inquiry to stop the demolition and ensure that commensurate compensation was paid to not only land owners of destroyed properties but also those whose businesses were destroyed.
Agballah also advised persons whose businesses were destroyed to seek redress and make sure they get commensurate compensation for their destroyed businesses assuring them of support from the party.
Agballah, explained that it was important that a national public inquiry be set by the House of reps to stop the impunity going on in Enugu and make sure that the governor was held responsible for desecrating the constitutional rights of the citizens to own property and carry on their lawful businesses.
He observed that the demolition of Holy Ghost/Railway/Okpara avenue axis, Gariki Market, Abakpa Market and Ogige Market in Nsukka had led to untold financial and psychological hardship on affected families, economic decline due to loss of revenue and jobs, deteriorating living conditions characterised by increased poverty, social unrest, increased crime and loss of goods and services.
The party urged Gov. Mbah to stop further demolition on other areas, parks and market that had been marked, advising that Government must carry out cost benefit analysis before embarking on a destructive projects.
He noted that Enugu state governors past and present are the only governors that when in office they will forcefully take peoples land saying that such does not happen in any other state in whole of South East.
He maintained that no investor will invest in a state where this kind of demolition takes place quite often.