A group under the aegis of Diobu Chiefs and Elders Forum has alleged that the demolition of buildings at the Illuoabuchi waterfront, was punitive and that the Wike led PDP government was witch hunting non indigenes for political reasons.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt and signed by its chairman, Chief Gift Otonnah, the forum pointed out that like Ikeokwu spare parts market, the Illuoabuchi waterfront, which is home to mostly Igbos was currently under demolition for being the voters’ base of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Port Harcourt (PHALGA 3) and not as claimed to be shanty area.
It described the displacement of the inhabitants of the waterfront as wicked and direct attack on the non indigenes in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
The forum recalled that the spare parts dealers at Ikeokwu were displaced by the construction of a fly over by Rivers state government and were nieither given sufficient time to quit or relocate to another place, leaving most of them and their family members roaming the streets, pointing out that it was also punitive, with smack of ethnicity.
It also recalled that during the COVID 19 lockdown and subsequent EndSars security challenge, markets operated by the Igbos were chosen for prolonged closure.
The forum regretted that tens of thousands of non indigenes particularly Igbos have been chased out of their homes and places of business by Rivers state government bulldozers and police gunfire, without adequate compensation and resettlement.
It called on Gov. Wike led administration to respect, protect and fulfill the right to adequate and affordable housing for the urban poor.
“We want to alert Rivers people of a dangerous trend whereby the PDP led government in the state can wakeup anytime and forcefully eject people from area perceived to be opposition stronghold, like Ikeokwu and Illoaubuchi area of Diobu, Port Harcourt”.
“We call on those affected by this wickedness in governance, including other residents and voters’ in Diobu area of Port Harcourt to come out and condemn this act with their PVC come 2023 elections”.
“The people of Diobu must not allow these types of leaders again, to avoid being pushed out to the street”, the statement read.
