This comes on the heels of a two-week ultimatum handed down to traders at the Oba market and Osa market by the government through the leader of the Edo State Market Women Association, Blacky Omoregie Ogiamien, to look for other markets.
However, Blessing Owie, the spokesperson for the traders who led others in protest to the Oba’s Palace, said that the government’s plan to demolish the Osa market would send traders into indebtedness and penury.
He claimed most of the traders had obtained loans to reconstruct their shops when government intervention was not forthcoming after the fire disaster that engulfed the market on December 19, 2019.
She appealed to Oba Ewuare II to request the state government to provide a perimeter fencing, gate and standby fire service station in the market instead of demolishing the facility.
Owie also appealed to the Oba to send a delegation of Chiefs to the market for an on-the-spot assessment.
She said they were excluded from the state government’s N100 million livelihood support loan meant for traders who incurred losses in the inferno.
She said, “We cry to the palace for help as our last resort. When the fire inferno occurred in Ekiosa in 2019, we lost our shops and goods. I lost four shops with goods. We worked hard under the rain and sun, trading along the road and at times, the government task force came and drove us away. We took loans to rebuild our shops.
“Each trader was made to pay an N20,000 levy to market security before permission was given to rebuild the shops with blocks. We also pay security and waste levies and taxes to Oredo Local Government Council daily.
“We didn’t get support from the government; we did not benefit from the N100 million that was given to traders who lost their shops in the market fire.
“We have widows, single mothers and breadwinners amongst us. Our royal father should help us to talk to Governor Godwin Obaseki not to demolish the market. Rather, he should fence the market and provide gates for us. Our businesses are our lives and only means of survival,” Owie pleaded.
Responding on behalf of the palace Chiefs who received the protesting market women, the Ogua of Benin, Chief Uyi Okungbowa, stated that their grievances have been duly acknowledged and would be communicated to concerned authorities.
Okungbowa advised the traders to shun violence, assuring them of an amicable resolution to the issue.
