The plans to democratize the leaderships of Eke Ukwu Owere and Relief Markets in Owerri by the Mayor of Owerri Zone, Chief Gibson Achonwa Njemanze (Oyiga) as directed by Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has been flouted by Owerri Municipal Council Sole Administrator, Mazi Paschal Ujah.
Governor Okorocha at the inauguration of Imo My Pride project at Ahiajoku Convention Centre, weeks ago, directed the Mayor of Owerri Zone (Oyiga) to ensure that the two markets, which have been managed by caretaker committees for years are put in place immediately to drive the affairs of the market.
In compliance with the directive, the Mayor last Friday, inaugurated two committees with a 30-day mandate to organize elections for the markets that will usher in democratically elected executives.
While the committees were yet to settle down for their new roles, they were attacked by thugs at the market at the weekend, vowing to obstruct the activities of the newly constituted committees.
It was unclear who prompted the thugs to unleash terror on the committee, but a reliable source told Trumpeta that the attack came from those who have severally opposed the conduct of the election into the markets and who have made tremendous fortune from the presence of illegal caretaker committees. Eke-Ukwu Owere market has no elected executives for over eight years.
The Owerri Municipal SOLAD, Ujah was said to have kicked against the set up of the committees on the basis that it is the statutory function of the municipality to run the operations of the markets.
The SOLAD’s position has pitched him on collision course with some forces in the government who are bent on putting in place an elected executives for the markets that will serve the interest of the traders, and not a few who have amassed enormous wealth through illegal collection of levies and fees in the markets.
This Newspaper learnt that such illegal actions and acts are aided and abated by every Chairman in Council.
Efforts by Trumpeta to speak to the Municipal SOLAD, Ujah, was futile, as he refused to pick several phone calls. Text messages sent to him seeking for his response on the crisis was futile as he refused to respond or reply.
