Community at loggerhead over allocation of market stalls
Residents of Ogboji community, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra are divided now following a disagreement over sale of stalls in the newly built town’s market.
The project is part of Governor Willie Abiano government’s N20 million ‘’Choose Your Project’’ initiative. Residents in the state were allowed to choose projects worth N20 million to be executed in their respective communities.
South East Trust reports peace eluded the community since the completion of the market, which was further aggravated by a leadership tussle in the town’s union.
Things got to a head as a section of the community staged a peaceful protest at the government house Awka appealing for the governor’s intervention.
They accused the immediate past President General of the town’s union of imposing his cronies as leaders.
A community leader, Neville Uchendu, told the governor that they have been living peacefully until recently because some of their leaders wanted to be manipulating them for their selfish end.
“Regrettably, the leadership in the community is currently creating crises in the area,” he said.
“Ogboji has been known for peace. But there have been several crises in the last six years due to bad leadership. But we have resolved to put an end to it and to restore peace to the community” he said.
He said a nine-man caretaker committee has been set up to find a lasting solution to the crisis and make sure that peace is restored.
Uchendu appealed to the governor to approve the committee set up by the community for inauguration.
He said the community problem started when the outgone President General started selling the more than 90 shops in the community’s market.
“Locked-up shops were sold for N200,000 while the open shops were sold for N50,000 to non-indigenes of the community.’’
Uchendu, also accused the former leadership of manipulating the recently conducted electioninto the town union’s executive. He said many people, especially the youths, were disenfranchised.
“Scores of youths were disenfranchised during the election on the grounds that they were not married. It was obvious that they wanted to impose someone on us,” he added.
A women’s leader, Ujunwa Onuigbo, said they have been denied entry into the market, which she described as their inheritance.
Addressing the protesters, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Vera Nwankwo, assured the community of the government’s determination to restore peace in the community.
“The government is aware of your plight. As a peace loving governor, Chief Willie Obiano will ensure that peace returns to the community in the shortest possible time,” she assured.
Reacting,the President General of the community, Mr. Mike Obidike said the allegations were not true and a plot to discredit him and other executive members.
He said the election was properly fixed and conducted on December 28, 2019 and the handing over to the new executive was slated for December 31.
He said it was Sunday Uchendu and his group who came to the venue and started making trouble.
Obidike accused Sunday Uchendu of doing a shoddy job when he was given a contract to build some shops in the market after which he was barred from getting another contract.
“We did not collect money from any company to buy shops and even the N50,000 that was paid by 11 persons which Uchendu and his relations paid have been refunded to them.’’