If information reaching Frontline Express is anything to go by, then it can be reported that the traders of the demolished Orie Akokwa have all vowed to unleash their anger upon any APC leader they find in-sight around the Market environment to address them. The traders expressed their frustrations that after several weeks of demolition of the market, no sincere plans have been made to begin any form of reconstruction on the site. They argue that there was no need whatsoever to demolish the market in the first place, since as a village market, it was not obstructing the Urban renewal programme being carried out by Governor Okorocha in the Owerri metropolis. Many of the traders who spoke to our reporter, expressed total regret for supporting the APC government in the 2015 general elections, noted that under the current administration, Akokwa has never benefitted anything whether in appointments or in project sighting. They described the action of the Governor to demolish the Orie Akokwa Market as wicked and vindictive, and aimed at punishing the people of the area because of perceived political enemies who are natives of Akokwa. The traders rained curses upon the APC leaders of the LGA, describing them as sycophants whose only concern is their selfish interest. They condemned what they described as the myopic approach of the APC leadership of the LGA in going on to destroy an existing market, without putting in place an alternative for the traders. Meanwhile, the youths and traders have vowed to descend upon and lynch any government official who will come to address them concerning the market without any corresponding action to begin its reconstruction immediately.
As at the time of filing this report, the community leadership, it was gathered has already began moving sand and granite to the site with a view to kick-starting the reconstruction work by self-help. The reason for this, this paper gathered is born out of frustration from government and insincerity of the APC leadership of the area to chat a way forward for the market reconstruction.
In the meantime, Frontline Express gathered that the contractor, Chief Ifeanyi Ojimba, CEO Transtel group of Companies, who has been nominated by the leadership of the community, to help rebuild the market, has not been approved by the relevant organs of Government. According to a government source who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, Governor Okorocha is reluctant to grant approval to the contractor presented to him by Akokwa having been briefed that certain wealthy men from the area have already concluded plans to allot nearly half of the entire shops to themselves through the contractor that is being presented, even when the market is not yet built. As gathered, the situation has gone worse, in that, the governor, according to the source is not ready yet to send any contractor to rebuild the Orie Akokwa market “and may not be ready until 2019” the source hinted.
In a related development, residents around the Market who are worshippers of the market deity have vowed to rather die than allow the state government demolish the structure housing the said deity. As gathered, four men have been on the forefront to offer their lives in place of the demolition of the deity.
