*BY: CHIDI IGWE*
There is palpable tension at a popular market in Owerri, Imo State over reports State Governmen’s directive for street traders in the market to relocate.
Relief market is the second major market in Owerri metropolis after the ancestral Eke Ukwu Owerri market was brought down by the Imo State Government last September.
Some traders at the meeting who spoke to this newspaper called for restraint on the part of the State Government.
After the demolition of the Eke Ukwu Owerri market, Relief market became the next destination for traders in Owerri metropolis.
Newspaper reports claimed that the traders have been directed to move over to Egbeada, a tiny village in neighbouring Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
A trader, Chuks Okafor appealed to the State Government for restraint saying with the yuletide fast approaching, it is a wrong time to displace the traders in the market
“We appeal for time. We cannot afford to loose our goods this time around now that Christmas is around the corner” he said
*Ex Federal Lawmaker, Onyeagocha Reacts*
A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Uche Onyeagocha in his reaction described the planned demolition of Relief market as disgusting and inhumane.
According to a statement signed by Mac Enwerem, Onyeagocha’s media aide, he said “It is indeed highly disturbing why the Governor has resorted in destroying people’s means of livelihood especially at this critical time of the end of the year. This is a man whose tenure is not up to six months”
He said the motive is “nothing but a classical case of transgression of anger on the people of the state after being shamelessly humiliated by APC which denied his son-in-law the party’s governorship ticket”
“However, we condemn entirely Governor Okorochaś dishonest intention to demolish Relief market and to use this medium to call on him to first, rebuild all the markets demolished in the state.
We hereby call on the good people of the state especially traders to rise and passively resist him from carrying out any demolition exercise on the Relief market” he stated
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