The Chairman of Progress Market, Onitsha in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Mr. Ekene Okoye, has pledged the loyalty and support of the market to the Government of Anambra State, which he said delivered them from wicked merchants who wanted to hijack the market.
Okoye said his leadership had to fight these shylock businessmen, which led to going to Police even court, saying that his life was also threatened in the process.
He said: “They sent hired assassins to kill me but they failed because God was on my side and I was also on the side of the truth and we struggled and Government came in and removed the market from them and we now have rest of mind. We have peace of mind now.
We promise that since it is now Government market, no individual would be allowed to hijack it. And that is why we will support Governor Willie Obiano because we are happy with him for what he has done for us in particular and the traders in the state in general. He introduced football completion for traders.
Okoye also said that Governor Obiano is constructing N10m projects in each of the market in the state, saying that their own projects are Lister generating set and the construction of office complex.
Although Okoye said the projects were yet to commence by the time of filling this report, as they were yet to see the contractor, he said he has confidence that it would be started and completed as they have been approved.
They have started the projects in other markets. They have even finished some. We have confidence that our own would be finished. The Governor is a sincere person, we have confidence that he would do what he promised. At least some have started, some are about to finish, some have finished. I think everybody is happy because Willie is working,” he said.
The chairman requested that the Governor should direct his security network in the state to engage in some surveillance of the area to rout out illegal levy collectors and hoodlums who snatch bags, handsets and money from traders and customers.
We want to know who sent all those illegal toll collectors. Security in Onitsha is okay but we want the police and vigilant operatives to improve their focus on Okada robbers,” he said.
For Governor Obiano, Okoye emphatically said, “he has already won the election and any market and trader who does not support Obiano does not know what is good for them because this man loves traders.
The chairman also commended the Commissioner for Commerce, and the President General of Amalgamated Markets Traders Association of Anambra State (AMATAS) and the members of his executives for their determination to organise markets in the state.
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