By Joshua Ahaneku.
The ever bursting Owerri shopping plaza may be closed down for commercial activities by traders, following reports of a face – off between officials of government ministries and agencies and traders.
This coming on the heels of the warning of Owerri municipal council executive chairman, Hon Emma Odor, who warned the state government officials to desist from harassing traders at the market.
Imo Trumpeta learnt that the traders are furious over growing insecurity in the market and constant intimidation by government officials.
Speaking to Owerri Market Traders Association (OMATA) at Ekeukwu Owerri, Owerri shopping plaza and World Bank Market, Odor told the traders that what the market needs is peace. He said that no one at the market should give him any trouble since nobody disturbed the former Transition Committee chairman in the local government. He warned those fomenting trouble in the market to stop forthwith.
Hon Odor affirmed that authority over markets is constitutionally vested on local governments, thus no state government Ministry or Agency can claim supervisory powers over the markets. He therefore told the traders not to be intimidated by the Ministry of Commerce as the Ministry has no role to play in the market.
He told the traders that before any government can build a market or interfere in the running of any market, it must consult the local government. He re – affirmed that the 1999 constitution brought markets under the authority of local governments.
In his reaction, the youth chairman of Ekeukwu Owerre (OMATA) told the executive chairman that they will support his efforts. He appealed to the chairman to urgently hold elections in the market as the traders all want a new election to usher in a new executive.
In his response, odor promised that new elections will soon take place in the market, but stated that before that happens, he will meet with the acting executives and discuss the modalities for the elections.
At the Owerre shopping plaza, the Owerri municipal council boss told the traders that he is back to office as the courts have restored his mandate and that of the other chairmen. He said that he is a man of peace and appealed to them to maintain peace in the market.
Chief Odor told the traders that he has constituted a new acting committee to look after the market, but promised that fresh election will be held soon. He advised aspiring candidates to start warming up for the elections.
The chairman reiterated his stance that both the 1999 constitution and the local government bye laws gave authority over markets to local governments. He wondered why the state government agencies should be disturbing the traders in the market when they don’t have the powers. He advised the traders to disregard them.
At the World Bank Market, New Owerri, the chairman brought a similar message of peace to the traders. He introduced the acting chairman of the market, Mr. Lawrence Oboye, and his deputy to the traders and promised that the chairman and his group will be accountable to the people.
In his reaction, a trader in the market, Sir Reuben Chukwuagwu asked the chairman why different committee chairmen are on ground in the market. He complained about the dirty conditions of the market which he says requires urgent action.
Responding, the executive chairman promised that elections would soon be held in the market. On the dirty condition of the market, Odor promised that it will be looked into, but pleaded for continued peace in the markets.
