ESAN NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL RE: UROMI MAIN MARKET TRADERS CRY FOR JUSTICE - A REJOINDER

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The attention of the Executive Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State Hon. Austine Okoibhole has been drawn to a statement titled "Uromi Main Market Traders Cry for Justice" being circulated on Social Media by one Orukpe Lucky.

While it would have made huge sense to simply ignore the spurious allegations as those being peddled by one of those political jobbers, we are however constrained to respond for the sake of those that may have been deceived by the outright falsehood.

The author of the statement had alleged that the council chairman collected the sum of N30, 000 each from  all traders with lock up stores in the market, and N5,000 from those using grinding machines.

For the avoidance of doubts, Esan North East Local Government did not at anytime collect the sum of N30,000 from traders occupying lock up stores or N5,000 from those using grinding machines. If any money was illegally collected, it was done without the consent of the council.

We have every reason to believe that peddlers of this unfounded rumours are paid jobbers who are out to undermine the good work of the executive chairman. The well-being of the people of the local government remains the utmost priority of Hon. Austine Okoibhole.

The decision to stop street trading is for the safety of traders displaying their wares along Mission Road  axis. Just recently, a heavy duty truck lost control and rammed into an illegal market at Angle 80. To God be the glory, it happened at night and the fuel truck had no content.  

It would have resulted in serious disaster, as no less than 300 persons could have been affected. Then the same persons criticizing the enforcement of the ban on street trading, would turn around to criticize the council for allowing street trading.

The council has made alternative arrangements and market for the traders. Those trading on the  roads are mainly fruit sellers, and we have fruit market at Eko-Ohie. The president of Uromi Traders Association is fully in agreement with our decision.

Contrary to the myopic thinking and uncivilized reasoning of these detractors, the vision and mission of Obaseki is not to watch those he is elected to govern commit suicide. We urge these detractors to visit New Benin Market and some other markets in Benin to see how decent they have become.

The fact that the petition they purportedly submitted state government was not acted upon shows it was unfounded, baseless and lacking in merit. We therefore advise Lucky Orukpe and his co-travellers to desist from this smear campaign against the Honourable Chairman of Esan North East Local Government, and channel their energy towards profitable ventures.

God bless Uromi/Uzea
God bless Edo State
God bless Nigeria

Signed:
Jude Ehebha
Chief Press Secretary to the  Executive Chairman, Esan North East Local Government Council