By Prof Des Wilson
The new Plaza which was inaugurated before the last Christmas caused a disruption in the illegal services that had taken over the beautiful edifice which Governor Victor Attah had created as part of the beautification of the city centre. Before then the area which had become mired in filth and grime was not befitting of the centre of a state capital.
The only federal government establishment around what used to be called the Uyo circus was a scruffy, early 20th century shanty structure, which served as the General Post Office in Uyo.
But when Obong Attah sought to change the outlook of the place, he wrote to the authorities of the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) and informed them of his government’s intention to redesign and restructure the area to capture the aesthetic values of the people. The Akwa Ibom Government worked out a deal with NIPOST and the place was reconstructed, and no side suffered any pain or embarrassment.
Under the present Akwa Ibom State Government, all that NIPOST had was an aggressive red X mark on their walls without any notice. In less than two days, workmen moved into the place like Donald Trump’s army, knocking down structures of individuals and NIPOST.
Today, many subscribers to NIPOST postal boxes and private mailbags are stranded as most of them have lost the use of those services and valued items that allegedly may have been in those boxes at the time the aggressive workmen moved in to remove those concrete and metal cubicles which housed the postal boxes.
A staff of NIPOST who speak on condition of anonymity, said that some subscribers have threatened to take them to court for causing them irreversible damage. As a responsible federal parastatal that has rendered useful services to the people, they were shocked at the level of hostility displayed towards them. Another noted that their office had reported to the head office in Abuja and were awaiting response from there.
One of the concerned staff feared that many useful documents may have been lost in the process and they are hoping the threat to sue them will not be carried out as they were not responsible for whatever may have been lost.
She added that, being in the same party as the President, no such brazen action should have been taken without consultations between Uyo and Abuja.
The other problem, they say, has to do with subscribers who have paid for services they no longer enjoy. Apart from the NIPOST challenge, there are several individuals who conducted their businesses in the area, even though illegally, but through the approval of some agents of government.
In a parlous economic situation as we have in Nigeria such illegal businesses are bound to occur. Yet, there were those who legally carried out their businesses there. Who will compensate them for the losses?, they asked.
Nonetheless, the new Plaza looks good, but we hope the new management will not allow it to fall into states of repair and rot as it was before the refurbishing. But government must learn to do things methodically and legally without flaunting its uncontested might before the people who see their actions as representing executive lawlessness.
