By Ikechukwu Ezema
The chairman of Igbo Eze South local government area, UgoFerdinand Ukwueze, has promised to expand the standard of markers in the local government area so as to attract more patronage and investors.
Ukwueze made the promise when the executives of Orie-Igboeze market, which is one of the major rural markets which operates under the aegis of Orie Igboeze Market Amalgamated Traders Union (OMATU) paid him a courtesy visit on Monday, November 18, in his office.
The market leaders requested for an establishment of a commercial bank beside the market, expansion of the market, an authorisation to elect a new leadership of the market democratically to replace the caretaker committee, among others.
The chairman assured that his administration will do the needful to restore the lost glory of the market in addition to uplifting it’s standard to attract foreign investors.
He said that his administration is already reconstructing pathways into the market, prior to their request.
He said, “I am aware of the scenario that led to the establishment of Orie Igbo-Eze Market. It’s a reality that when it was established, we had the dream that it would one day be internationalized like Onitsha Main Market. But when we ask ourselves to what extent we have achieved this dream, we will realize that we are lagging behind in our purpose. I have visited the market several times since I became Chairman, and honestly, I’m not impressed. The market has turned into a ghost of itself. We urgently need to change the trajectory of the market. Until we do so, we may not be able to develop it,”
Ukwueze restated that the “Progress Agenda” mantra targets general development of Igbo-Eze South local government area, including the Orie Igboeze market and other rural markets.
“My administration is very much concerned with the sustainable development of our communities, and of course, markets will not be left out.
“I have totally aligned myself with the purpose of your visit, which is the total development and transformation of Orie Igboeze market. It’s high time we reconstruct the market, and each and every one of us needs to make sacrifices in order to create the market we dream of.
“Prior to this meeting, I had already started looking into ways to help develop our markets and this meeting has reinforced my goal. So far, I have discussed with banks, and they are willing to partner with us,” Ukwueze stated.
The Igbo-Eze South boss disclosed that there is an existing committee which he set up to research on the market and identify improvement opportunities, stating that the committee will examine all market departments and develop strategies that will help in the transformation of the market.
He said that grading of major roads leading to all the markets in the council area and other parts of the local government has commenced.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Union, Mr Ignatius Onah, expressed gratitude to God Almighty for the successful election that brought the administration of UgoFerdinand into power as the current chairman of Igbo Eze-South local government area and made a passionate plea for his administration to come to the rescue of Orie-Igbo Eze market.
He said, “Today, we are here on behalf of Orie Igbo-Eze Market Amalgamated Trader Union and have come to welcome your administration. We are grateful to God for delivering the right mandate to us and pray for the success of your administration.
“Orie Igbo-Eze Market is the biggest market in Igbo Eze South Local Government, where people from near and far come to buy and sell. For this reason, it belongs to everybody, and we have come to beg for your assistance as our market is on the verge of extinction,” he stressed.
Onah further pleaded for the intervention of the council chairman in enthroning a democratically elected leadership in the market.
Onah said, “Firstly, when we started this market, we elected executives who helped guide the activities in the market. These executives became the first executives of our union, the Orie Igboeze Market Amalgamated Traders Union (OMATU ) and Benjamin Ugwuoke emerged as the first Chairman of OMATU.
“Due to a conflict that emerged between the executives a few years ago, a caretaker committee was formed by the past local government administration to help coordinate the activities of the market. This caretaker committee was not formed with the consent of the market union, and it has posed a problem in carrying out our administrative activities in the market.
“We are begging you to assist us to bring back democracy in our market. We want you to assist us by giving permission for us to conduct an election where members of the OMATU will elect their executives. In this sense, we wish to dissolve the caretaker committee,”
He said that the second reason for the downfall of Orie Igboeze market is the absence of a bank in the market surroundings adding “due to insecurity in our country, people no longer move around with huge bank notes as they are at risk of being robbed along the way or being interrogated by security agencies,”
“Our market does not have any commercial bank where people can deposit or withdraw money close to the market. Due to this reason, we have lost so many customers to other markets, and we plead that you intervene,”
He said that they have land that can be provided to the state government for the purposes of building a commercial bank in our market.
“The people, family, government, and market are the same. If our market suffers, the government too will suffer. For this reason, we have come to you for your help and assistance, and we know that you will attend to our needs.” He added
In his own speech, Mr Donatus Aguyi, the Vice Chairman of the Union, thanked the chairman for his hospitality and efforts in developing the market.
“We thank you for such a warm welcome. Your words are truly encouraging, and we don’t regret coming to you for help. If we had people like you from the beginning, probably our problems would have been solved long ago.
“We assure you that our support is with you, and we’re ready to provide both human and material resources to see our market developed.
“This market is our source of survival, and its development will not only help us feed ourselves and our families but also bring growth to our local government.
“Once again, we thank you for your words of affirmation, and we pray that God continues to provide you with strength and wisdom to carry out your administrative duties,” he added.
