A former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Mr. Paul Ikonne, has accused Governor Alex Otti of imposing what he described as harsh tax policies on traders in Aba and failing to give a clear account of funds spent on school and market projects.
In a statement issued on Wednesday through his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Ujo Justice, Ikonne said traders in Aba, particularly those at Ariaria International Market, are currently facing heavy levies that contradict the governor’s campaign promises. He explained that before Otti assumed office, shop owners at Ariaria paid about ₦18,000 annually per shop, but the current government has increased the amount to more than ₦36,000.
According to him, with over 88,000 shops in Ariaria Market alone, the new levy translates to about ₦3.1 billion every year. He added that traders at other markets such as Ekeoha Shopping Centre and Timber Market are experiencing the same situation.
Ikonne, who served as the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) under former President Muhammadu Buhari, said the new tax regime is unfair to struggling traders and does not align with the promises of a people-focused government.
He also questioned the state government’s claim of spending ₦54 billion to renovate 51 schools and ₦7 billion on recreational centres. He challenged Governor Otti to provide evidence of the schools that benefitted from the huge expenditure.
“Governor Otti, fear God and show us the 51 schools you claimed to have renovated with ₦54 billion,” Ikonne said.
The APC chieftain further criticised the governor over the treatment of market traders in Aba. He said that under the previous administration, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with traders, assuring them of reclaiming their shops after remodelling. However, according to Ikonne, the current government has abandoned the agreement and is instead demanding that traders pay as high as ₦15 million to reacquire their shops.
“That is an anti-trader policy that adds untold hardship and suffering. Many traders cannot afford ₦15 million to buy back their own shops. This is a clear violation of trust and a betrayal of Aba people,” he added.
Ikonne argued that with the huge revenue coming to Abia State every month, there is no reason for the government to place such financial burdens on traders. He noted that the state receives a monthly federal allocation of over ₦30 billion, excluding funds allocated to local governments.
He maintained that with such resources, the Otti administration has the financial capacity to provide modern market structures with basic amenities like electricity, potable water, fire services, and security, without passing the cost to traders.
“There is no justification for squeezing Aba traders dry when the government has the resources to give them modern markets. The ₦15 million shop fee and ₦36,000 levy are exploitative and run contrary to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Ikonne said.
He insisted that Aba remains the economic heartbeat of Abia State, and warned that “strangling traders with taxes without development” would only cripple business activities and discourage investment.
Ikonne concluded that any government that punishes traders instead of supporting them has failed in its responsibility to the people.
Meanwhile, the state government has not yet officially responded to Ikonne’s allegations, but analysts believe the tax debate may become one of the key political issues in Abia as preparations for the 2027 elections gradually build up.
