Only Ogbaru Relief (Main) Market out of 32 market leaderships has not complied with the government’s order.
Ochiogu rather than comply with the quit order, sued the state government even as the government directed the traders in the market to stop all manners of payment to him as his stay there was illegal.
The government used the Defence Corps, NSCDC and Vigilante group, as last resort to eject him after series of letters for him to comply with the order.
The Special Assistant to the governor on Market Affairs, Hon. Ezenduka Chike, who led the combined security team to the market to install Chief Obidike had on arrival at the market Secretariat, met an empty office and phone calls put across to Ochiogu to come and hand over to the new administration, were not picked.
However, Obidike pledged to carry the market to the next level and urged the traders to give him maximum cooperation to help move the market forward.
He assured that there would not be gnashing of teeth by traders as there would be adequate protection of wares of traders.
He recalled how the election in the market conducted to elect a democratic executive was flawed by his predecessor, Ochiogu.
He commended the governor and the Commissioner for finding him worthy to pilot the affairs of the market as the caretaker committee chairman pending when an election would be conducted.
“I thank God for Governor Soludo who has listening ear, I saw hell on the day of that election as a contestant to the chairmanship seat. Those that were to vote for me were not allowed to come inside the field”
“When I boycotted the election arena because it was flawed and was to leave, they locked the gate and held me hostage, that I must be there until after the election,” Obidike said.
Speaking, the former chairman of the market and a chairmanship candidate in the flawed election, Chief Victor Nwawuzie Akirika, thanked God for the intervention of the governor, adding that with the appointment of Obidike as the caretaker committee chairman peace has been restored.
He urge the traders to always trust in God and be patient in all their undertakings.
