The current mad drive of Anambra state Government to drive to insanity the small and medium businesses in the state into oblivion is paying dividend. The traders , especially those on the street are gnashing their teeth in painful Government manipulative menstruation .The Government we all voted for hoping for a better state ,has suddenly subjected us to life of “aga akoro onye ?” [Who shall we tell?]
Originally the drive was targeted on Hawkers ,Artisans and less privilege road side vendors ,where the Government are harassing and intimidating them into parting with the bulk of Cash they can manage by folding their business, the government where able to drive fear into the mind of the masses by brandishing some mumbo jumbo documents which they always tell the traders that it is a legal judgement from a Judge empowering them to imprison anybody that defaulted.
With the little understanding of the Traders, these agents of the government has succeeded in driving many of them out of business after they might have sold all they can to pay the over hyped agencies of devastation from the Government who increased all the previous Local Government charges with over 2000% increment, also has taking the Levy collection out of the hands of the relevant agencies into the hands of particular Town from Anambra North.
By so doing , they are taking life and livelihood out of the hands of rest of the state to empower a particular Town ,mobilising them against the rest of the state in preparation of aggressive takeover of the State . Be reminded that from Drivers to SSA, SA and almost all the workers presently in the Government are predominantly from a town . Whereas the rest of the state is crying blue atrocities , a particular town is singing praises of utopian headways .
Today the State Commissioner for Health Dr Joe Akabuike outside his many side of atrocious manipulations under the protection of the Government has added a brand new twist ,he suddenly started collecting , sorry the euphemistic way to play it down should be ,he have started mandating with serious intimidation from all the store , shops, business centres , health institutions what he called fumigation certificate , which he charges minimum of 40,000 naira and he also sent out thugs who goes out as his enforcers and they are ready to break legs or Jaws to make you part with this ugly extortion .
This is coming at the heel of fire extinguisher certification which the government through one of his over 500 Surrogates collect the sum of 40,000 Naira per shop .
The rate my state spring levy driving thugs and unleash them unto the hapless and harmless public is giving many people cause for serious concern.
The question begging for answer is “obu ukwua ka nama ga eji je lue Umuahia ?” , we also must remember that the present government were bequeathed with a whooping sum of 75 billion naira cash and investment which was long gone and they borrowed 10 billion naira [to pay 21 billion within 10 years ] that is gone as well .
This January they are hoping to say Happy New Year with a Brand New loan of 50 Billion Naira ,hoping to pay back about 104 Billion both interest and Principal .
Mazi Odera