From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
It was a hilarious get-together, as house and property owners in Aba, Abia State, under the aegis of Aba Landlords Protection and Development Association (ALPADA), held their annual End of Year session.
But, beneath the laughers, exchange of banters and conviviality, the landlords bore the yoke of multiple taxation and decayed infrastructure in the city. They could not stomach it further hence they decried the situation in strong terms.
In a resolution at the end of the gathering by the trustees, they bemoaned multiple taxation, infrastructure deficit, including poor power supply, lack of access roads and high costs of doing business in Aba, as major factors militating against investments and called for proper government intervention. The trustees included, a former deputy governor, Chief Acho Nwakanma (grand patron), past ACCIMA president, Chief Emma Nwakpodolu and Chief Leo Ike Okoye, (Lee Nobec).
For the group, it was actually a week of festivities, involving appraisals, debates, resolutions and visits to orphanages and charity homes, as well as discussions leading to policy plan direction on programmes to embark on, that will impact in the overall welfare of residents of the city.
At this year’s occasion, attended by top business and public authorities in Aba, ALPADA President General, Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo said the association will always work towards the promotion of the overall good of the residents and also protect its members.
Udeigbo declared that a proposal was on ground to build a state-of-the-art medical diagnostic centre, that will cost over N30million, to cater for the healthcare needs of members especially those of the elderly and vulnerable ones in the society.
He said the facility will be readily available and accessible at affordable costs.
He added that the association was contributing towards deepening democracy in the state and the country at large, by organizing a platform where those seeking elective positions will be given the chance to present their manifestos and plan of action, should they be elected into office to represent the people.
Udeigbo appealed to Aba residents yet to collect their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs), to endeavour to do so, in order to use their votes to enthrone leaders that will work for the betterment of the society: “Our members have to understand that they have a civic responsibility to obtain their voters cards and to vote during elections, otherwise, they will not have any locus standi, to complain when the government of the day, is not meeting their expectations.”