Traders of Orie Emene in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu state whose shops were demolished have threatened to protest against none accommodation of space in the newly constructed market at Cattle Larearage, layout along Enugu-Abakaliki road.
Sources told our correspondent that the aggrieved traders were not accommodated in both Plot 16 B and 16 C in Cattle Larearage Emene Industrial Layout that were initially allocated for the marketers because of lack of enough space.
However, following the development, the traders appealed to the governor for more space. He was said to have approved phase A to ensure that traders who have not gotten allocation space were provided one in the plot 16A Cattle Larearage, Emene Industrial Layout and directed the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Dr Victor Nnam, to perfect the plans.
But the sources noted that the Commissioner instead of carrying out the directive of the governor, connived with some vested interest and went back and lied to the governor that Plot 16 B & 16 C were enough to accommodate the traders.
According to one of the sources, the development irked the traders on Wednesday who applied for allocation but have not gotten one to stage a protest to the Palace of Emene Traditional Ruler, Igwe Felix Ugwu, who appealed to them to exercise restraint.
“So, as things stand now the aggrieved traders are going to protest against none inclusion in the allocation on Thursday. They are going to block the Abakaliki road to draw the attention of the governor to the injustice.”
It was further gathered that the commissioner and cohorts have capitalized on the fact that governor is not seeing people because of Covid-19 pandemic to prevent the governor from knowing the actual position of things in the market.
Orie Emene Market was demolished because of the expansion of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and some safety concerns because of the proximity of the market to the airport.
Meanwhile, efforts to get reaction of the State Commissioner, Victor Nnam were unsuccessful as his phone was said switched off.
