The refusal of the operators of donkey
abattoir in Agbor to obey the directives given to them by the Delta State
Ministry of Justice through an appointed arbitrator is beginning to generate
avoidable tension in the area. According to investigations, some staff in Ika
South Local Government Council ceded the only government abattoir in the area
to a private investor without due process and against existing Bye- Law.
Though
the operator was required to slaughter only cattles, donkey meat was
introduced, which made the residents of Low Cost Housing Estate, where the
abattoir is situated, to raise alarm. As a result of the heat generated, the
council authority reluctantly moved to eject the donkey meat traders.
However,
when the operators refused to close shops, the council went to the
arbitrator appointed by the Ministry of
Justice as required in the contract.
When
the sole arbitrator, Mr. Omanuzo Enebe, finally ruled that the sale of donkey
in the abattoir is “unlawful and an illegal way of performing an otherwise
legal contract, an order which is yet to be implemented.
Besides the absence of due process leading to
the illegal contract, the arbitrator reminded the parties of the 1989 Bye-Law
of Ika Local Government Council which is applicable in Ika South Local
Government Council that prohibits the slaughter of donkey in the abattoir. The
lack of strong will to eject the donkey meat sellers from the Estate forced the
house owners under the aegis of Ika South landLords/Landladies Association to
protest to the caretaker committee chairman, Engr. Andrew Obiazi.
According
to Mr. Vincent Arimokwu, the chairman of the group, “the HPM, the legal officer
and Health Department played various roles during the proceedings of the case,”
thus wondering why the affected offices have turned their the judgment they
sought and got.
Attempts
made to speak with the Acting Director, Department of Environment, Mr. John
Alika, over the allegation of compromise of staff in the case yielded no
positive response as he said he was not
the one in charge when the unpopular contract was initiated and approved.
In
view of the intense pressure, it was reliably gathered that the new management
in the council has returned to the High Court to seek definite order to eject
the donkey meat traders.
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