The Abia State Government has appealed to traders and residents of Aba to always cooperate with government agents in their efforts to sanitise Aba and bring decorum to the city and its markets and desist from actions that could lead to confrontation with authorised government agents.

The appeal is sequel to the incident of Saturday around Georges by Clifford and School roads, Aba, where miscreants and illegal street traders tried to resist the instructions and directives of the officials of the Aba Urban Renewal Office, leading to some misunderstanding between the illegal street traders and the government officials.

Godwin Adindu, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, said in a statement issued in Umuahia: “ Government wants to reemphasise that the mission of sanitising Aba and reinventing the ancient city, which is being executed through the Aba Urban Renewal Office, is one cardinal policy thrust which the current administration is pursuing with passion, dedication and every sense of duty. Therefore, the street traders must adhere to the government directive to relocate to the newly constructed GoodMorning Market, along East Street, by Ngwa Road.

Government will not tolerate any form of deviant acts that would seem to hinder the progress of this laudable vision of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

“Government is also disabusing the minds of Abians against the propaganda peddled by some disgruntled elements that the exercise is targeted against non-indigenes. Aba is a melting pot for all ethnic nationalities in the country. Aba does not only belong to Abians, it belongs to Nigerians and the world. Governor Ikpeazu is rebuilding a new city for the world.

“Therefore, political jobbers and enemies of the state who are cashing in on this sanitation exercise to generate crisis and foment trouble are well advised to rethink their mischief. They must desist from acts and statements capable of inciting Aba residents against one another and causing the breach of the prevailing peace in the land.

“Government recognises that the mandate to rebuild Aba and other major Abia cities would certainly come with sacrifices and requires the co-operation of all Abians and this is in the overall interest of us all.

“The Government is also using this medium to state categorically that, contrary to the rumour being spread by detractors and opposition elements that there was disturbances in Aba between indigenes and non indigenes, the city has been calm and peaceful and will continue to maintain this status. Hence, residents and visitors should go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of molestation or intimidation by any group or persons.

“The general public is also encouraged to be partners with the law enforcement agencies in their effort to live up to their statutory responsibility of maintaining law and order and protecting lives and property.”

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu.