Aggrieved cattle sellers from the North plying their trade at Lobbanta Garke cattle market in Umunneochi local government area of Abia state have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene over the two-week eviction notice handed over to them by the Abia state governor, Alex Otti.
Speaking in a news conference in Kaduna on Sunday, the Vice Chairman of the Cattle Market Association, Buba Abdullahi said the market was given to them by a former governor of the state since 2005.
“Over the years we have developed the vast land and have been plying our business and living with our families unhindered before the two-week eviction notice given to us by the state government.”
According to them, since the eviction notice, over 15,000 people in the community have been directly and indirectly affected and have nowhere to go.
“Our attempt to see the governor to explain and plead with him was blocked. Each time we make an effort to see him we are being blocked. That’s why we decided to travel down to Kaduna to tell the world what we are going through.
“Also to appeal to President Tinubu to intervene in our plight by asking the governor to withdraw the eviction notice.”
Also speaking at the press briefing, the National President of the Northern Consensus Movement (NCM), Dr Awwal Abdullahi while calling for caution, said his movement’s major role is to protect the interest of the North and Northerners within the ambit of the law.
“Therefore, we are calling on the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti to withdraw his statement of the 14-day ultimatum given to the Northerners who are doing their legitimate businesses in Garke Cattle Market, Abia state.”
According to him, such eviction threat will not urger well for both sides considering the huge number of easterners who are not only residing but equally doing their legitimate business in the North without any harassment or intimidation from any northerner
“Igbos own businesses worth billions of naira in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and all other Northern states. Igbos own plazas, shops, houses, and farmlands in the North and have a population of over 10 million, while Northerners resident in the Eastern region are not more than 2 million running menial businesses.
“We are calling on President Bola Tinubu and all the Northern leaders to intervene in this matter and call the Abia State Governor to stop further action.”
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