Posted by By DAVID OWUCHEKWA, Nnewi on
With a First Class degree in Philosophy from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, Mr Ebo Chigbo Socrates would have got a better employment in a society where unemployment is no problem.
With a First Class degree in Philosophy from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, Mr Ebo Chigbo Socrates would have got a better employment in a society where unemployment is no problem. But in Nigeria with soaring unemployment level many graduates like Socrates have been roaming the street in search of non-existent jobs.
However, unlike his many other folks, Socrates has secured himself a job, even though it is not commensurate with his great learning, but just to keep body and soul together.
But the tide appears to be turning against the hard-working Socrates as his landlord, Chief Kenebe Nwagbo, has allegedly perfected plans come August to evict him from the workshop where he repairs GSM phones and computers to eke out a living.
According to Socrates, his landlord is hell-bent on pushing him out of an attachment workshop he rented for the period between September 2007 and September 2008 at N43, 500.
The philosopher-turned GSM and computer technician who is currently doing his masters degree at UNIZIK said his landlord decided to evict him by destroying his workshop by installments; first part of the walls and then part of the roof, leading to the destruction of his equipment, GSM phones on repair and computer sets worth over N700, 000 by the rain.
But Chief Nwagbo dismisses his claims when he spoke to Daily Sun, saying that he offered Socrates two options, either to relocate within his (landlord's) property situated at the same location or have his one-year rent fully paid back to him, but he turned down the offer and rather demanded for compensation.
According to the technician, the landlord decided to evict all tenants within the premises to erect a new building, having negotiated with a bank to take over the building on completion.
But instead of giving him quit notice or pay him a compensation, the landlord, he claimed, went ahead to demolish parts of the structure housing his workshop and still threatened to deal with him if he dare disobey his order.
He alleged that the landlord boasted that he had set aside N200, 000 to make case with him in case he tried anything funny.
Not waiting to be taken unawares, Socrates said that he wrote three petitions to the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and the traditional ruler of Awka, His Royal Highness Igwe Gibson Nwosu, respectively asking them to intervene in the matter.
Socrates said he had roamed the labour market but could not get a job after graduation in 2004 and decided to be self-employed.
He wondered why what is happening to him now should be his portion. "Does it mean that a poor man will not live again," he queried, adding "as an unemployed graduate, I understand what it means when a big man says I will deal with you. Nevertheless, as a law-abiding citizen, I will not surrender any of my rights to him."
The landlord, however, insisted that he never wanted to evict any of the tenants unlawfully, saying that of all the tenants within the property in question only Socrates refused to toe the path of dialogue.
He also denied that he never advertently destroyed Socrates' structure, but said it was a natural disaster.
"The point is that I want to construct a new building there to help develop Aroma. When I started the construction last year I notified all my tenants and began to design the house which was approved last year by the Anambra State Urban Development Board (ASUDEB) who gave me only two years within which to finish the structure or have my approval reviewed," Chief Nwagbo claimed.
He said that Socrates refused to come to terms with him and vowed that he would never allow him one-second stay after August 2008 when he said Socrates' tenancy will expire.
But Socrates swore: "Over my dead body. I will not leave until he pays me compensation for the inconveniences I have suffered."