By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Rancour within the different factions of the Apo Mechanic Traders distrupted the meeting scheduled by the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, to resolve their long-standing permanent land allocation dispute.
At a meeting convened on Friday by the Coordinator, AMMC, Chief Felix Obuah as a facts finding mission over the lingering agitation, was marred when multiple unions and individuals appeared with claims and counter claims almost turned into aggression and physical fisticuffs.
But for the timely intervention of the coordinator who presided, the meeting abruptly ended with anger and frustration, as many of the multiple associations accused each other of appearing before the panel with fake documents.
Some fractions of the Traders associations on Thursday blocked the FCT Minister’s gate at Area 11, but were later dispersed by the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike who said he would not be intimidated by protests.
It is gathered that some Apo Traders’ Associations have been agitating for allocation of land for a permanent site, provision of basic infrastructure , before they could vacate the road corridors, to allow the ongoing dual carriage road project.
Obuah who frowned at the multiple factions of the associations, disunity, and in-fighting among the traders, also warned that the government will neither deal with illegal organizations, nor allocate land to the groups, without a United front.
He said that every illegal structure standing on the right of way of the ongoing road project, will be removed, and urged them to go and put their houses in order.
He disclosed that all the documents the groups are brandishing may not be competent to earn them the government’s attention.
Furthermore, he also charged the various fractions of the associations to unify their stand and come with a common platform to present their request.
Some of the factional leaders who spoke at the meeting, included Chimezie Ifeh and Michael Ndubisi who claimed to be leaders of Apo Traders Associations and Apo Mechanic Village, respectively.
Ifeh accused other leaders of the traders, of ulterior motives aimed at hijacking the land allocation meant for traders affected by the road construction.
While Ndubisi argued that many of the people, posing as representative of the traders, were out to undermine the interests of larger members of the groups.
