The Chief Executive Officer of Valentino Da Vinci Nigeria Ltd, Chief Chinedu Valentine Ugbala, has said that he wants the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached with Valentino Da Vinci Nigeria Ltd, Okporo people and Imo State government on Orie Okporo Modern Market development be adhered to in order for peace reign at the market.
Ugbala, who briefed journalists at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Owerri, on Tuesday, stated that some persons from the area were trying to thwart the MoU (agreement) reached and signed by the three autonomous communities of Okporo (Isiala, Amanato and Udogadi) because of their selfish interest.
The developer, who is an indigene of Amanato, Okporo, Orlu, noted that he came in and saved the demolition of Orie Okporo Modern Market by the Rochas Okorocha administration, as his company (Valentino Da Vinci Nigeria Ltd) agreed with the people and government to develop the market and manage it for fifteen years with some percentage being paid to the communities, after payment of five million naira Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to government through the ministry of Trade and Industry.
He said the market was well structured, saying it is the best international market in Imo State.
Ugbala revealed that the earlier agreement signed was 25 percent, but the people voted to reduce it to 15 percent, stating that he did not claim ownership of the market, as he is just the developer who should be allowed to manage the market for 15 years as agreed in the MoU to recover his money which he said was over #2.9b, including N5m payment of Certificate of Occupancy and other expenditure.
He explained that he has not gotten a dime after 3 years.
He accused some of the leaders of Okporo community, mainly from Udogadi community of working against the MoU, especially as it conceerns selling of shops or shades to traders because he refused to give them money as requested, reiterating that the Court adopted the resolution, having given Valentino Da Vinci victory as the highest investor in the market.
He advised “Imo State government to kindly call the people causing the problem at Orie Okporo Modern Market to order, to allow the person who invested huge amount of money to build the market structures to start recouping his Money as indicated in the MoU. The agreement is duly signed by the government, Okporo Communities and Valentino Da Vinci Nigeria Ltd on a (BOT) who are aware of all the contents on the Agreement Document. They are also aware of the Court Judgement and Judgement Order dated 11th March 2020 in suit no: HOR/2/2019”.
Ugbala alleged that he was attacked at St Joseph’s Catholic Parish, Okporo, Orlu Diocese on 20th of December, 2020 by hoodlums, an attack he said was not unconnected with the market issue.
Commenting on the development, some indigenes of Okporo, Barr Udensi Robert Odera ( President General, Okporo Middle Age Association), Pastor Ifeanyichukwu Ukaegbu and Chief Frederic S. Nwaike, maintained that a 7- man committee was set up to look into the matter in the market and distribute shops to those who originally own them accordingly.
They said the three traditional rulers of Isiala, Amanato and Udogadi had remained silent because of their selfish interest in the market.
They described Chief Chinedu Valentine Ugbala as an illustrious son of Okporo, and appreciated him for building the market and empowering people.
