Fides Media Living the Faith
By Jude Atupulazi
A governorship aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2021 poll in Anambra State, High Chief Obiora Okonkwo, has expressed disappointment with the state of affairs at Mgbuka Obosi Market in Idemili LGA of Anambra State. The market, which was recently gutted by fire, claimed one life.
Addressing the traders during his visit at the site of the disaster where new structures were being put up, Okonkwo blamed the Anambra Government for lack of care to traders in the state, blaming the incessant fires at markets on such negligence.
Okonkwo who was accompanied on tour of the burnt section of the market by the market chairman, Ogbuefi Ezeobodo Samuel Okechukwu, said he had come to proffer solution to the incessant fires, noting that it was what was needed to avert future fires.
He said the revenue the traders generated in the form of taxes, rates and levies, were supposed to be rechanneled by the government into providing amenities and security for the traders, and regretted that such had not been the case as the markets in the state were poorly equipped.
He expressed happiness with what he saw at the market which he described as a place with the largest concentration of hard working young men who had the Igbo spirit.
Okonkwo, after taking note of the layout of the market and the leadership structures, announced a donation of a trailer load of cement to assist in the rebuilding of the burnt shops, a development that drew wild cheers from the traders.
He promised to liaise with the market leadership to work out modalities for effectively assisting the traders, even as he expressed sadness over their plight.
‘We are here to sympathize with you on the recent fire incident that wreaked havoc in the market. We have witnessed so many incidences of fire disaster in our dear state and we are sad about it. We don’t want to keep visiting scenes of fire disasters to sympathize with victims.
‘What we want to do now is to discuss with traders on how best to prevent future occurrence. This is because prevention is better than cure,’ he said.
The market chairman thanked Okonkwo for his show of concern and prayed God to bless his aspiration.