Brandishing various placards and singing songs of solidarity, hundreds of angry market traders have blocked the entrance gate of Imo government house while demanding an audience with Gov. Okorocha.
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After the demolition of Owerri main market by the Imo state government, scores of traders who were relocated to Industrial Cluster, Naze, on Monday, barricaded the Imo State Government House, Owerri, in protest.
According to PUNCH Newspaper, the angry traders who blocked the main gate to the government house, caused panic in the area as they vowed not to vacate the entry gate until Governor Rochas Okorocha address them.
The angry protesters brandished various placards and singing songs of solidarity, security men at the Government House, some of who bore arms, tried in vain to control the traders so as to allow free flow of traffic in and out of the compound.
Speaking while addressing journalists, two of the protesting traders who identified themselves as John Okeke and Ebere Ndu, said the government sent them to the industrial market without first ensuring the success of their activities.
Okeke said, “The government just sent us to the Naze Industrial Cluster, but we are suffering there. Hunger is killing most of us, as our perishable goods rot away because nobody comes to buy from us and our welfare is not guaranteed.”
According to the traders, part of their grievances was that while the governor demolished Owerri main market and insisted that they move to the new site, the state government still allowed other traders to continue trading in the demolished market.
“They asked us to move to industrial cluster, we obeyed; but they allowed others to continue trading there.
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“As I speak to you, there is trading at the demolished Owerri main market, including street trading along the Douglas road. It wasn’t part of our bargain with the government,” Okeke said.
He complained that the development was affecting them, adding that people prefer to make purchases at the demolished Owerri main market because it is closer to the town than coming to the new site at Naze.
“Our goods spoil regularly. It costs us great losses because there is no patronage. Where we are staying now is a bit far from town. As long as the government encourages street trading and economic activities at the demolished Owerri main market, we will not be making sales,” Ndu said.
The traders said they were at the Government House to ensure that Governor Okorocha orders every trader to the new site.
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