The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has urged Gov. Willie Obiano to urgently put the necessary machinery in motion toward immediate evacuation of students and indigenes of Anambra stranded in Plateau.
The Chairman of CLO, Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, made the call while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Sunday.
Ezekwueme said the call became necessary following escalating tensions arising from violence and unrest in the hitherto quiet capital city of Plateau, Jos.
He said: “It is pertinent to note that the essence of government is for protection of lives and property of its citizens.
“Hence urgent need to ensure safe evacuation of indigenes of the state back to Anambra for reunion with their families until normalcy is returned.
“It is prime importance for government to show love, empathy and compassion for them, give them sense of belonging because an injury done to one, is an injury done to all.”
Ezekwueme called on Obiano to issue a directive abolishing illegal revenue agents disguising to be working for the government especially within Onitsha and its environs.
“It is existential reality that touts, illegal agents, emblem boys and illegal task forces are very rampant in the state as if we in a state of nature in which the mighty is right,” he said.
Ezekwueme also urged the Federal and state governments to commence palliative works on dilapidated roads especially 3-3-Otuocha, Onitsha-Owerri, Nnewi-Uga-Okigwe federal roads.
“While governments should expedite actions on Onitsha-Awka-Enugu Road in addition to Haruna, Niger Street, 3-3 Nsugbe, Nnobi-Awka etiti-Igboukwu and Obodoukwu state roads,” he said.
He also urged the governor to direct his commissioner for environment to urgently commence evacuation of waste bins and refuse dumped in different parts of the state to avert health hazard.
“The move will also help to check blockage of drainage system that causes flooding and erosion in view of the torrential downpour.
“Government should also revert to original purpose dump site at Main Market converted as shops to forestall dumping of waste in the drainage channels,”
Ezekwueme added. (NAN)
