Channel Your Complaints To Me – Wike Tells Apo Traders

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has advised Apo Mechanic Traders to channel their complaints to him for onward review.

WIke gave the advise in Abuja while addressing the traders who came protesting over the failure of the FCT Administration to relocate them to their permanent site since 2006.

He described the protest as uncalled for, and warned the traders that their action could be considered as mere distraction and an attempt to negate government efforts, since they were yet to officially write to him about their demand to move to Wassa District, their permanent site.

Ironically, the traders who were protesting were seen carrying different placards with inscriptions commending the developmental strides of the Minister, saying they were in support of his efforts.

The Minister, however, said he doesn’t like such support and directed them to go back and follow due process.

“What I don’t like is intimidation. If you have a problem, channel your problem to me and if I don’t solve it, then you can take another step.Something that has happened since 2006 and you didn’t take any steps, Ministers have come and gone”.

“If this is the way you support government, then I don’t need it. Is this the way you support government by barricading the road and obstructing traffic without informing me of anything. You never wrote to me that you want to see me or that we refused to see you. Then what you will do is to wake up in the morning, barricade the road, and barricade the gate, and then you are saying you are supporting me? Then I don’t need your support”.

“What you should do, tell your people to go, then write that you want to see me, then we will sit down and talk. I am not one of those ones anyone will come and intimidate. Barricading the road I don’t like it. People coming to tanisih the image of government is not right when we can sit and dialogue. If government have promised to give you land then I will look at the papers .Then write to me so that I can listen to you.”

Earlier, the chairman of the traders Association, Mr Chimezie Ife, said his members were tired of waiting since 2006 to be allocated their permanent business environment, having spent over N100 million.

He explained that since 2006 when the old Apo mechanic village was demolished with a promise for a permanent location, they waited untill 2011 where they applied for a land, but were forced to spend over N100 million over time by officials of the Administration.

He expressed the hope that the current FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, will address the lingering issue.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji