YENAGOA—E[b]motions ran high yesterday as Bayelsa State government rolled out its bulldozer destroying caravans, sign boards and other business outlets described as illegal structures along the major streets of Yenagoa, the state capital.[/b]
Backed by armed policemen, the bulldozer which took off from the Capital City Development Authority on the orders of the state government rolled menacingly through the popular Imgbi road destroying several structures considered illegal by the government.

Interestingly while some of the sign boards and other projected structures were pulled down others were left intact causing residents to dismiss the exercise as selective.

Lamenting the action of the government some residents, including shop owners and other affected businessmen especially those operating in caravans said the time limit handed them by the authority was not enough to enable them relocate to Igbogene adding “the location is inhabitable and the time unattainable.”

It was however learnt that the action of the CCDA might not be unconnected with the query allegedly handed the leadership of the authority after the successful hosting of the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) in the state by the government.

A source close to the CCDA said the destruction of the illegal structures on the major streets was directed by the state governor, Chief Timipre Sylva and should have been done before the arrival of guests for the yearly movie award but that the excuse by the CCDA was that the debris from the destruction may send wrong signs.

A concerned resident simply identified as elder Peter, who escaped been crushed by the rampaging caterpillar used by the officials of the CCDA, lamented that the area provided by the government was not suitable for all caravan owners to relocate to.

“These people are not leaders rather they have become authoritarian that they can issue order and before you comply, they execute it. It is unfair to the people of the state,” he lamented salvaging what he could from his crushed caravan like other affected residents.

Reacting to the development, the state Secretary of the Action Congress (AC), Comrade Ebikibina Miriki described the action of the government as lacking in proper reasoning.

According to him, “these people should have construction a large shopping complex as an alternative for caravan owners to source for rather than hurriedly destroying the huge money invested by the people. How much have they invested to assist small businesses in the state rather they share the SME fund among PDP members. It is pathetic.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/33142/44/

Every government wants to destroy illegal structures. . . . . i guess that's the IN-THING.