My state government (Imo State precisely) does not find it
unfitting to erect monuments of African Presidents but find it fitting to knock
down structures for road construction but never complete the roads, thereby
causing the blockage of drainages and floodings around town.
My state government does not find it unfitting that our
governor hosted two sitting Presidents and one ex-president for his birthday
(we are yet to understand the economical import of that action) but find it
fitting to provide 300 old, refurbished taxis while almost banning Keke from
the state. They have been relegated to remote areas and the effect is that we
get to pay more for distances we paid for less with Keke: (They (taxi drivers) have
to pay up the one million Naira mortgage on the taxis.) Not excluding the hours
of standing in the sun to get taxi and being squeezed into it. (The state of
the taxis is a different topic; wait for it.)
My State government does not find it unfitting that there
are no companies to profitably employ graduates or at least make the state
business ecosystem attractive to investors to come and build the companies but
rather find it fitting to keep rendering jobless those who had source of
income. Like I've pointed out in an earlier article, Keke transportation is one
of the highest employer of labor in my state. By banning Keke, thousands of Keke
riders lost their means of livelihood. This is in addition to destroying shops
in Douglas to make people pay for shops in an uncompleted market site that is
prone to flooding and that is far removed from Owerri municipal.
Today, I heard a loud bang. I came out to see a lot of shops
being broken down along PACs to Maris Junction axis. If you are conversant with
this road, you will know that this road never experiences traffic; never! You
will also know that those roadside shops never constitute any form of nuisance.
You will know that those roadside shops are built well into the walls of the hosting
compounds, such that they never cause traffic issues. If you live in Owerri, you
will know that the cost of renting a shop is outrageous; so having those
roadside shanks is the only way for many businesses to survive and make a
little profit. If you live in Owerri, you will also know that those roadside
shank owners who sell second hand wears, video and audio CDs and fruits are
mostly graduates who could not land jobs.
At this rate, what are people actually expected to do in
Nigeria? How does the average man on the streets actually survive? The cost of
house rent, shop rent and living expenses are so high; employment is at zero level
because those with jobs are underpaid and yet the government that is supposed
to alleviate the people's suffering is the one propagating it.
If I ever hear anyone complain that Owerri guys are yahoo
boys and Owerri girls are runs girls, I'll bite off your ears; especially if
you are doing nothing to alleviate poverty levels in this state. Please, stay
on your high horse and pocket your righteousness. Lol. Come on, at this rate,
what are people expected to do? Stay at home and wait till hunger kills them since
they cannot afford shop rents, land jobs, ride their Keke, hawk or sell by the
roadsides?
Today, I was so overcome with emotions as I saw the owners
of these shank shops hold their hands over their heads; their goods destroyed;
their spaces destroyed. I felt helplessness, anger, rage and even tears on my
face. And I asked, how long? How long
will people murmur, post on social media and then get used to this new form of oppression?
I say it is time for Imo people to protest and to so protest that our
government comes to order. If we are afraid of dying, people are already dying
in this state out of hunger, frustration and joblessness. So, if we are afraid
to die, our sisters and brothers are already dying.
If we do not rise up and
call to order those who claim to have bought our votes and reclaim the destiny
of this state, then they will keep raping and ripping us apart.
Onye azu ya di na-ala anaghikwa atu ujo ada.
Igbokwe
Vivian Ijeoma
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