Normal buying and selling of goods have returned to the popular Ekeukwu Owerri Market along Douglass Road, which was demolished and traders chased out of the place by the ex- governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
This is coming, following a directive by Governor Emeka Ihedioha that traders should move back into the market where the immediate past administration built Somto Diagnostic and Medical Centre.
Governor Ihedioha during his visit to the place directed all the traders already on the roadside to vacate the busy Douglas Road and move inside the premises for their usual business until he concludes discussions with the people of Owerri on the fate of the market.
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This is in line with the promise made to the traders during his electioneering campaign that if he wins the election as governor of Imo State, he would bring back Ekeukwu Owerri ancestral Market.
Following the directive of the governor, traders have complied by moving into the place for formal business. The Nigerian Xpress saw excited traders moving into the market.
Our correspondent who went to the place witnessed normal buying and selling of wears, shoes, cloths, food items, among others going on inside the market while traders were busy displaying their goods to their customers devoid of harassment and intimidation
The busy Douglas Road that was earlier on blocked by the traders since their forceful ejection is now free and passable for vehicles.
A trader in the market, Romanus Eke expressed his joy and commended the governor for bringing them back to the market, adding that their joy knows no bound for that action.
He described Ihedioha as a governor with a difference that has come to halt the sufferings of the people of the state.
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Before now, the Ekeukwu Owerri market was demolished by the past administration and was relocated to Egbeada where a yet to be completed lock-up shops were built.
The demolition which led to the killing of a 12 year old boy, Somtochukwu attracted wide condemnations from people within and outside the state.
The then government under Governor Rochas Okorocha employed the services of security agencies in the state to carry out the demolition.
The past administration after the demolition resolved to build a medical centre, named Somto Diagnostic and Medical Centre, as a way to immortalise the 12-year-old boy that was shot dead in the course of the demolition.