Bayelsa State Capital City Development Authority during the week put their bulldozer to work, demolishing some structures of popular night club, Bolex.
The operation which lasted some hours, CCDA officials destroyed over six fanciful car ports, perimeter fences, chairs, erected concretised pavements, riser beams, electrical wiring, plumbing line and other equipment used for car wash.
For the owner, fun seekers and workers, the action of the agency was wicked and insensitive, wondering why a government wooing investors into the state could wreak such havoc without prior notification and cause.
Some concerned residents were also angry that the CCDA was allegedly on a mission to kill their joy because of politics.
They lamented that the agency chose no other time but few days after business experts, tourists and politicians from Nigeria and around the world gathered in Yenagoa, the state capital for the first Investment and Economic Forum organised by the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, to demolish Bolex.
Officials of CCDA had come for the exercise with a truckload of armed policemen providing cover for them.
In an interview, Bolex Manager, Mr. Preye Boligha, was devasated and discouraged.
He was simply ruminating on the reason behind the action of CCDA.
Preye said, “We really do not understand the reason behind this destruction. Bolex is genuine business. We wash cars, run a snacks bar, club and night bars. This is a business that has given employment to about 150 jobless people especially youths.
“We are even amazed that this time shortly after the government hosted local and foreign investors. At one breath, they wooed investors, at another breath they rolled their bulldozers to destroy a successful local investment. We are still waiting for them to explain the reason behind this action.”
Preye may be right. Bolex appeared to be the only business concern destroyed by officials of the CCDA. Investigations showed that the company is located far from the road. Similar businesses sighted close to the expressway were spared.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Executive Secretary of CCDA, Idaba Eje, through his mobile phone were not successful as his phone indicated ‘no connection’ many times.
However, Eje while defending the action of the CCDA in a local radio station, said it was carried out to rid the state of illegal structures.