Hell was let loose at the early hours of Monday, July 5th, and Tuesday July 6th, 2021, when traders at the Relief Market Plaza, Owerri, Imo State resisted new attempts to construct fresh buildings at the market entrance gate.
The aggrieved traders, Trumpeta Newspaper gathered were ready for war, but for the timely intervention of the General Manager of the Owerri Capital Development Authority, OCDA, Engr. Innocent Ikpamezie, blood bathe was averted.
They accused the sacked Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barr. Kingsley Ononuju of orchestrating all that has been happening in the market of late, even before his removal.
Closing all the foundation holes of new plaza already dug at the entrance of the market, the traders fumed at the development.
They pointed accusing fingers at Ononuju for allegedly approving the construction without Government approval that was before his exit.
He was said to have carried out the shoddy deals with the sacked interim chairman of the market and his Exco, one Mr Chinedu Onuoha and Mr. Owele Oman.
Expressing displeasure, the newly enthroned Caretaker Committee Chairman, Bro Paul Okpara said, blocking the entrance of the market was a height of irresponsibility in the side of the actors and initiators of such plan.
Okpara disclosed that the traders couldn’t bear such illegality, hence their action to close all holes dug for the construction of new plaza, which is directly situated at the entrance gate.
He reiterated that Government is never in support of the action, saying that the people came in company of the former interim heads of the market, messrs; Chinedu Onuoha and Oman.
“There is no way Government will give them permission to build on a tared road, thereby blocking the entrance to the market. The traders have decided and so shall it be. Nothing will be erected there. It is illegal”.
Contributing, a member of the Committee, Mr. Fortune Egbuom, narrated that on sighting the stern looking persons on Monday, the traders stood on their ground to resist any gestapo activity, especially as it concerns building on a tared road leading to the entrance of the Relief Market Plaza.
Mr. Egbuom revealed that from the OCDA GMs statement, he condemned the said construction, describing it as illegal without any approval of the Government.
However, he opined that they were instructed to close the dug holes for foundation laying which they just did.
He maintained that the ex market Exco led by Chinedu Onuoha should be held accountable for the charade as he supposed to have informed the traders persons behind the arrangement, which he never did until his removal, thereby fueling a serious suspicion.
Against this backdrop, Mr Onuoha led caretaker was dissolved ,and new interim leadership was set up to work for a specified period of time before proper election would be conducted.
Similarly, Madam Roseline Ukwuoma stood firmly on the resolutions of the traders to say ‘enough is enough’.
She didn’t only criticize the construction, but also pointed out that building on drainage channels contravenes Government order.
Speaking also, Dr. Emma Agoh pointed out that the numerous problems and challenges facing the market emanated from Government quarters, and from moles, precisely from Commissioner Kingsley Ononuju who was believed to be brain behind the construction of shanties and new plaza.
“This crisis was orchestrated by the former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Kingsley Ononuju. I learnt that he was the person that approved the construction before he left office. This is an illegal structure and shouldn’t stand. Thank God the traders of Relief Market Plaza have decided and taken their destinies by their hands”.
On the new interim leadership, he said the choice of leadership was strictly a unanimous decision of the traders in the market.
“The new executives are choice of the people, because the immediate dissolved caretaker failed the people with their method of operation and sabotage”.
The newly constituted caretaker committee held yesterday include; Bro Paul Okpara (Chairman), Mr. Fortune Egbuom (Member), Bro Ben Nduka (Member).
Meanwhile, they reassured their support to the Government, but warned against external influence of any sort, especially targeted at inflicting more pains and suffering on the traders.
