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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Youths of Ndiobashi, Onuegu Ishieke community in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, yesterday stopped revenue collection in Nwori Ndiobashi market over multiple taxation and alleged government negligence.
Ndiobashi, Onuegu Ishieke is an Ebonyi, Izzi speaking community in Ado Local Government Area.
The youths numbering over 100 who carried placards with various inscriptions, staged peaceful protest round the largely populated market to register their grievance over multiple taxation and government negligence.
They alleged that the revenue collectors who are from Ekile community in the local government, have been imposing multiple taxes on the traders in the market including petty traders who should rather be encouraged in their businesses instead of collecting revenue from them.
One of the youth leaders, Comrade Sunday Odom urged the locals to address the challenges of the community.
He regretted that the community had suffered untold hardship. “We are not happy with what is happening in our community. We don’t have roads, we don’t have electricity, we don’t have water, we don’t have hospitals.
“The only thing we have in this community is this market our fore fathers established which we used to establish schools and pay teachers.
“The market has been taken over by the local government and our women, petty traders are being exploited. Our women are being harassed by revenue collectors and we say no to this.
“We should be allowed to control this market to continue to cater for this community since we have been forgotten by the government.
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“If there should be any percentage we should be paying to the local government, they should tell us. We suffered, we laboured, we did everything to establish this market and we have been using it to sustain ourselves since government cannot remember us. We don’t want any form of interference from anybody.
“All of you collecting revenue from this market were in existence when we suffered to establish this market and make it the largest market and nobody assisted us. Why the interference, why the multiple taxation? Is it because the market has grown?
“They should allow us to control this market. If we see their efforts in developing this community, we can welcome them.
“As it stands, there is no form of development either from the local government or state. We are living at the mercy of God and what we are able to raise for ourselves. So, why should there be any form of interference when we are struggling to develop on our own?” he queried.
Addressing the protesters, the revenue Coordinator of Ado Local Government, Adah Nathaniel said when he started collecting revenue from the market, he requested for the people of the community for inclusion as the revenue collectors and was told that Ndiobashi should stay out until issues about the collection were resolved.
He said he was ready to allow the people of the community to be part of the collection now they are making the demands.
“You are equally Ekile people, we are all Ekile people and I know that before now, there was no dispute between you people and Ekile people.
So, anything that will bring conflict, I will not be part of it. By the time I get to the office, I will deliver your message,” he told the protesters.
The protesters marched round the market and sacked all the revenue collectors during the protest.
