What would have resulted to bloody clash at the Oba International Market Oba site of the Coordinated Wholesale Center, CWC, for drug distribution, Onitsha was Thursday averted by the Anambra State Commissioner for Industry Trade and Wealth Creation Dr. Christian Madubuko and the Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Trade and Commerce, Hon. Pete Ibida.
The youths of Umumpama Aboji Oba, Idemili North local Government Area, one of the village that own the land acquired by both the government and the traders of Onitsha drug market, formerly known as Onitsha Patent and Proprietary Dealers Union, OPPMDU, on one side, the opposition group in the market on the other side and the market leadership and their supporters, had all gathered to receive the Commissioner and the lawmaker who paid a fact-finding visit to the site of the project. While the Umumpama Oba youths were agitating that all the compensation packages they agreed with the contractor of the project Burkham Nigeria Limited, has been paid them, the opposition members from the market alleged that the Mr. Uche Eze led leadership of the market has been deceiving them with banners in the market that the project has gone far.
However, Mr. Eze and members of his executive of the market, claimed that they have committed over N200 million to the contractor with the consent of the Anambra State government that brought the contractor, adding that they cannot do more or be faster than the government, because CWC is a Federal Government project. He said that they are interviewing the contractor that will handle the building of the CWC project, adding that money is available for the project but pleaded with the state and federal government for extension of time.
Chairman of Umumpama Aboji village, Benjamin Anajemba, while addressing newsmen before the arrival of the Commissioner and his team, said that they will not allow the project to go on except their ‘cola money’ they agreed with the leadership of the market is completed, having been paid only N7.5 million out of N15 million they agreed, with the traders. “We are angry that the traders are claiming that they have settled us, even the government has not paid us compensation for the cash crops they destroyed when they were building the Oba International Market they have abandoned.”
However, the arrival of the Commissioner, Dr. Madubuko and Chairman House Committee on Trade and Commerce, Anambra State House of Assembly,Hon. Pete Ibida, calmed the tension as there was already exchange of hot words between the leadership of the market and the opposition group, on one hand, while Umumpama Aboji youths were on the other side threatening that blood will flow if any work start in the site without compensating them.
Addressing the youths of Umumpama Aboji Oba, the traders and the opposition group of the drug market, Hon Ibida said they were not at the site to start work or know who owns the land but to ensure that there is level playing ground for work to commence at the site to ensure that the traders have a place for their business before the ban on open drug sale scheduled for 31th December 2018. However, the Commissioner, Dr. Madubuko expressed disappointment that nothing has been done
Vanguard
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