Clement Nnachi (Abakaliki)
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has issued a 3- months ultimatum to traders of Abakpa and Building Material markets located in Abakaliki the state capital, to relocate to the multi-million naira Margaret Umahi International market in the city.
Umahi issued the ultimatum on Thursday at the Governor’s Lodge at an enlarged meeting convened by the state government for traders of both Abakpa, Aluminium and Building Material markets geared towards fashioning out modalities for effective relocation.
He said that the relocation order given to traders was for the benefit of the traders insisting that he had no interest in the ownership of the shops.
He announced a new date of January 10th 2020, as deadline for the relocation of the traders to the newly constructed International market.
“Allocation of shops would start soon, I have no interest in the market , my concern is in ensuring the peace, tranquility and enthronement of law/order to all residents in the State”.
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According to him, “Every market man/woman who is a member of the Association must sign an agreement to abide by the resolution to relocate on or before January 10th 2020″
The Governor expressed disappointment that the traders dragged the State Government to court without seeking dialogue with the state government on resolution of the matter.
” Dragging the Ebonyi State Government to court is the worst insult to government , we would not condone such act of rascality”
He announced the setting of a tripartite committee comprising representative of the state government, traders and State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria
Umahi directed the Secretary to State Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugballa to seal up the shops of those traders that dragged the state government to court.
“The Secretary to State Government is hereby directed to seal up all the shops of those traders that dragged the state government to court”.
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Earlier in their joint speeches, the spokespersons of Building Material and Abakpa market traders Association respectively Mr. Emeka Nwona and Mr. Uchenna Okeke respectively, commended Governor Umahi for his magnanimity in extending the deadline for the relocation, assuring that the traders would abide by the resolutions.
Contributing the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ebonyi State Chapter Reverend Father Abraham Nwali, extolled the leadership ingenuity of the Governor Umahi assuring that the traders would partner with the government to ensure orderly relocation.
The CAN Chairman who doubles as the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Umahi on Religious/Welfare Matters restated that the traders had withdrawn the earlier suit instituted against the state government challenging the initial October 10th quit notice given to the traders.
The meeting had in attendance the leadership of the State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, members of both the Abakpa, Building Material and Aluminium markets traders Association, members of the Ebonyi State Executive Council among others.
It would be recalled that prior to the meeting, the State Government had set out October 16th as deadline for the relocation of the traders to the newly constructed Margaret Umahi International Market.