Stop imposing taxes or face another “Aba Women Riot” – Market women warn Abia Governor T. A. Orji. The City Reporters No fewer than 200 market women took to the streets of Aba on Friday to protest Abia State government’s “heavy imposition of tax.” The angry traders, who said multiple taxes was imposed through government’s various revenue contractors and agents, have issued a 30-day ultimatum to State Governor Theodore Orji to fix the problem or risk another Aba Women Riot that police may not be able to contain. The demonstration started around 2:30pm and saw the women march through major streets of the state capital chanting anti-taxation songs and wielding placards with unprintable inscriptions. Reports say the disgruntled demonstration was later dispersed by the police as protesters headed for the premises of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel 6 along Ogbor Hill. The women later regrouped and took their protest to Aba South Local Government headquarters along the Aba Owerri Road where one Mr. Nwagbara, who claims to be in charge of all revenues in the council, tried to pacify them. Some of the protesters who spoke to The City Reporters decried being subjected to all manner of taxes and levies by either the state government or people who claimed to be working for the government. They alleged the extortion has continued over the years unchecked. They accused the Commissioner of Commerce, Chisom Nwamuo, of turning a blind eye to their plight as attempts to present the case to the commission were repeatedly blocked. “Year in, year out, these so called Abia State Government officials come to markets in Aba to impose all kinds of mindless and laughable taxes and levies on traders including market women without anything to show for it in the city. “As we speak to you, there are over 17 of such taxes and levies and since businesses are no longer moving in the city as a result of bad roads, from where do we get the money to pay? And that is why women in the city have come out to say that enough should be enough” one of them told our reporter. Attempts to reach Police Public Relations officer (PPRO), Geoffrey Ogbonna, for comments proved abortive as at press time. In 1929, a women revolt popularly tagged “Aba Women Riot” broke out when thousands of Igbo women eastern Nigeria traveled to the town of Oloko to protest against the warrant chiefs whom they accused of imposing heavy taxes on women ans restricting their role in government. During the events, many warrant chiefs were forced to resign and sixteen Native Courts were attacked, most of which were destroyed. —
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 13:49:59 +0000
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