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From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
Rivers State governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Sobomabo Jackrich, has condemned multiple taxation and excesses of members of the state tax force on street trading, illegal motor parks and other sundry issues.
Also, he has criticized the shutting down of SPAR Supermarket at the Port Harcourt Mall through the instrumentality of court.
Recently, SPAR Supermarket was closed following a court order ahead of the commencement of Black Friday sales which the company had slated from November 17 to 27, 2022.
Sobomabo, who faulted the claim of failure of SPAR management to allow Rivers government officials access to ascertain the safety and environmental preparedness of company as reason for the court order, accused the state government of masterminding the closure to pave way for another supermarket owned by prominent politicians to carry out also its Black Friday sales, thereby throwing numerous Rivers residents into labour market.
He said: “The issue of multiple taxation and excesses of members of the state tax force on street trading, illegal motor parks and others who go about muscling up small and medium scale businesses in the state, should be addressed without further delay.
“A legal framework should be put in place to regulate and curb the incessant increments of residential and business accommodation facilities in the state.
“Hence, a government that claims it concerns itself with the safety and welfare of citizens of the state, should begin by demonstrating it in ensuring that street lights in Port Harcourt and its environs are kept on at night to guarantee the safety of citizens and to reduce crime and criminality in the state.
“These and much more are some of the ways to guarantee the safety and well-being of citizens, instead of embarking on the ill-intended move to frustrate and cripple one of the most viable public private partnership facility, the Port Harcourt Mall, a legacy of Governor Wike’s predecessor, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s administration.”
He also faulted Governor Nyesom Wike’s recent signing of Executive Order 22, which bans the use of premises, buildings and sundry structures in residential areas, as campaign offices by political parties in the state, without government approval.
Also according to the Executive Order 22, the new condition for political campaigns, which also prohibits posting of bills, posters or related materials in unauthorised places, was done in the guise of backing enforcement of Rivers State Outdoor Signage and Advertisement Law, whereas its main ill intended motif speaks for
“The National Rescue Movement in our previous press conferences, had stated that these laws contravene relevant sections of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, and thus, are dead on arrival.
“I, however, wish to appeal to the conscience of Governor Wike who has been at the forefront on the call for equity and for the right things to be done in his party, PDP, at the national level, with his constitution of what has now been known as G5 Governors; to allow for a level playing field in the state.”
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chris Finebone, had dismissed the political coloration given by some individuals to the closure of the company by court.
Finebone in a recent statement, disclosed that the state government through the Ministry of Environment, had dispatched a letter to the SPAR Supermarket management, requesting to allow government officials ascertain the company’s readiness to manage the envisaged crowd and other issues that the sales might trigger, which was ignored.
He stated: “Despite giving clear 48 official hours notice to Spar through the letter, which was duly received and acknowledged, the Supermarket officials were unavailable to receive the team from the Ministry led by the Honourable Commissioner. The team remained in Spar premises for about 20 minutes without any official of the supermarket willing or ready to engage the team.
“Subsequently, the Honourable Commissioner sent another letter stating that Spar should not proceed on commencing the Black Friday Sales without meeting with the Ministry officials to address environmental health and safety issues. This letter was also received by the company but no action taken by them.
“When it became obvious that SPAR management was intensifying the advertisement to go ahead with the Black Friday sales without meeting with the Rivers State Government officials to address the issues raised, the government had no other option than to approach the court to stop SPAR from proceeding with their planned promotional sales. The court subsequently granted an Order stopping SPAR Supermarket from carrying out Black Friday sales from 18th to 27th November, 2022 until it shows that safety and environmental measures have been put in place to ensure public safety.”
