By Abdullahi Muhammad, Abuja
Apo traders association meeting with AMMC on Friday abruptly ended in a deadlock as the traders disagreed amongst themselves on their leadership structure during a meeting scheduled by the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council ( AMMC) to resolve the protracted agitation by Apo Traders Associations ( ATAS) for the allocation of land for its permanent site.
A meeting which was convened at the instance of the Coordinator, AMMC, Chief Felix Obuah as a fact finding mission over the lingering agitation, was marred when multiple unions and individuals appeared with claims and counter claims.
The meeting which almost turned into physical fisticuffs, but for the stern position of the coordinator who presided, abruptly ended with anger and frustration, as many of the multiple associations accused each other of appearing before the panel with fake documents.
Recall that some of the factions of the associations had on Thursday blocked the FCT Minister’s gate at Area 11, but were later dispersed, after the Minister, Nyesom Wike addressed and labelled them as hired political protesters.
Some of the Apo Traders’ Associations have been agitating for allocation of land for a permanent site, provision of basic infrastructure before they could vacate the road corridors, to allow the ongoing dual carriage road project.
Obuah who expressed displeasure over the multiplication of associations, disunity and in-fighting among the traders, also sternly warned that the government will neither deal with illegal organisations, nor allocate land to the groups, without a united front.
According to him, every illegal structure standing on the right of way of the ongoing road project, will be removed.
He however, urged them to go and put their house in order, while also assuring that all the documents the groups are brandishing may not be competent to earn them government’s attention.
He also charged the various factions of the associations to unify their stand and come with a common platform to present their request.
Some of the factional leaders who spoke at the meeting, included Chimezie Ifeh and Michael Ndubisi who claimed to be leaders of Apo Traders Associations and Apo Mechanic Village, respectively.
Ifeh accused other leaders of the traders, of ulterior motives aimed at hijacking the land allocation meant for traders affected by the road construction.
Ndubisi argued that many of the people posing as representatives of the traders, were out to undermine the interests of larger members of the groups.