Ogbe-ogonogo market in Asaba, which was known for peace and orderliness in the past, has been turned into the den of thieves, following the alleged extortion of traders at the market by the Oshimili South local government council chairman and his vice, Mr. Uche Osadebe and Mr. Sunny Obi.
According to our market sources, one Mr. Tony who was appointed by the council vice chairman, Mr. Sunny Obi, was mandated by the council chairman, Mr. Uche Osadebe to oversee the running of the market, pending when there will be an election for substantive market chairman.
Speaking with our correspondent, some of the traders said the council vice chairman who is conniving with the council chairman has continued to fraudulently extort them.
“The vice chairman, Sunny Obi with the council chairman, are killing us with extortion. They have continued to extort us through their hand-picked market chairman, Mr. Tony. Before the coming of Tony, his predecessor was extorting N100 from hawkers in the market but Tony has insisted that the illegal payment must be reviewed to N200. Tony said the N100 is for electricity from those that has nothing to do with light.
“They said after the payment, we are only permitted to trade as from 5pm. From the payment, the sum of N20, 000 is being remitted to the vice chairman, Mr. Sunny Obi on daily basis as returns and ten percent is equally given to him from the N40, 000 extorted from each trader allocated a space, while the remaining money is shared.
“As we talk now, they have concluded plans are to retrieve some open shops from their owners, and reallocate to the highest bidders. The council vice chairman Sunny Obi through Mr. Tony his hand-picked market chairman has decided that as from 5pm, cars will no longer be allowed to use the car park, to enable them allocate the space for more money. Also, hawkers of sachet water will now pay the sum of N50.00 in the name of local government.” our source said.
Meanwhile, the traders at the Ogbe-ogonogo market, Asaba, headquarters of the Oshimili South local government area and capital city of Delta state, have cried out, calling on the state governor Ifeanyi Okowa to come to their aid over what they called incessant extortion by the council chairman, his vice and their agents.
Our correspondent reliably learnt that few days ago, most traders were prevented from displaying their items, on the grounds that they have reneged in paying the sum of N30, 000 and N40, 000 respectively, for the space allocated to them at the modern market, being managed by the estate manager, Mr. Paul Osaji.
“But ever since the present council leadership assumed office, we the traders in the market, including the modern market have not known peace, but continuously witness extortion on daily basis. So we are appealing to governor Ifeanyi Okowa to please come to our aid.”, a trader lamented.
Investigations revealed that few days ago, some of the persons allotted spaces at the supposed motor park by the hand picked market chairman, Mr. Tony, have already commenced erecting temporary structures at the motor park, before the office of Mr. Osaji, the estate manager of the modern market was notified, via an sms, which led to the halting of the construction work.
This reporter has equally obtained the various text messages, including the one to the office of Mr. Osaji.
Tthe council vice chairman, Mr. Sunny Obi has threatened fire and brimstone, saying, he will deal with this reporter. Mr. Obi, who was not happy over the intervention of this reporter, went and reported him to his village head, after which he said he will head to the Asaba law making body, (Otu-Ihaza) as well as going to the shrine, threatening that “this will mark the end of this reporter’s practice of journalism”.
When the council’s chairman, Mr. Uche Osadebe was notified on the issues, he said he is in support of any action taken by his vice.
