Remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre Aba
Dr. Alex Otti Means Well for Us -Comrade Emeka Okeke (Chairman)
Remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba
-Dr. Alex Otti Means Well for Us-Comrade Emeka Okeke (Chairman)
The chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, Comrade Emeka Okeke has told the teeming traders, stakeholders and elders of the popular Textile Market in Nigeria without mincing words to support the decision of the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) to remodel Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba alongside other major markets in Aba namely Eziukwu Road Market, Ngwa Road Market, Ehere Market, Ogbor Hill and Ariaria International Market.
He said that the performing and market-friendly governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti means well for them and the entire state.
He advised the traders of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba not to allow anybody or group to deceive or incite them to kick against the government decision under the guise of anything.
The quiet, unassuming, urbane, forthright, indefatigable and God-fearing chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba disclosed that the government decision to remodel Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba and other major markets in Aba came on the heels of Dr. Alex Otti’s several on-the-spot assessment visits to some of the markets in Aba that were gutted by fire early this year.
According to him, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti regretted that the way the markets were built made them vulnerable to fire outbreaks and stressed the need for the markets in the state to be properly designed and solidly built so as to allow ease of movement, especially in the event of fire outbreak or any other emergency situation.
He pointed out that Dr. Alex Otti’s vision is to ensure that traders operate in a conducive environment adding that traders who own shops in the afore-mentioned markets would not lose their shops after remodelling of the markets.
While the governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti disclosed his intention of remodelling Ehere Market, Ogbor Hill, Aba, Eziukwu Road Market, Aba and Ngwa Road Market, Aba by himself to the traders when he paid unscheduled visits to the affected markets to commiserate with the traders and to assess the extent of damage, the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu dropped the hint of remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba to the traders on behalf of the governor.
The news came as a bombshell to them and without wasting time they went on air to ventilate their displeasure, disenchantment and misgiving about it.
According to them, nothing is wrong with the way Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba had been over the years.
They appealed to the government to leave the market the way it is and channel its resources to other areas of urgent need in the state instead of spending so much money to demolish the market as well as remodelling it.
Also, some of them expressed the fear of losing their shops after remodelling of the market while others implored the government to provide another suitable place for them to continue with their business before remodelling the market.
All said, the government decision appeared to have run into more troubled waters and pitted members of a group known as ‘Consign Traders’ (sic) of Ekeoha against the chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba.
The group perceived the decision as a ploy to whittle down their influence and destroy their huge investments in the market.
They accused the chairman of the market of masterminding the plan to pull down all their structures in the market under the guise of remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba.
Against this background, what was meant to be a meeting between the contractor sent by the government and the executive, stakeholders and traders of the market at El Dorado Event Centre, Aba to brief the traders about how the remodelling of the market would be done was disrupted by the group and their rented crowd.
They insulted the contractor and dished out all sorts of lies to disparage the leadership of the market.
At the end, the contractor went back to Umuahia and related his experience to the state government.
Shortly after, another meeting was scheduled to hold in Umuahia through the office of the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu.
The executive and a handful of prominent traders of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba were invited to the meeting.
But to their chagrin, on getting to the venue of the meeting, the “Consign Traders” of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba were already on ground with their rented crowd.
This time they were more rambunctious, daring and spoke to journalists without restraint.
They vehemently opposed any discussion about the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, which was the sole purpose of the meeting. The scenario was chaotic and they succeeded in disrupting the meeting.
The group said that the chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba should go and tell the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti to remove him as their chairman and allow them to manage Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba the way they like. All pleas and entreaties for them to allow the meeting to hold fell on deaf ears.
The rowdy scenario, notwithstanding, the chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, Comrade Emeka Okeke thanked the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Umuahia for inviting them to the meeting even though it did not go as planned.
He told them that there is peace in Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba under his watch despite the reprehensible conduct of the so-called Consign Traders of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba and assured them that peace would continue to reign in the market.
On coming back to Aba, the contractor-financiers or Consign Traders of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba continued with their ferocious campaign of calumny against the chairman of the market.
The chairman of the market, Comrade Emeka Okeke said that he did not want to join issues with them or get involved in a media war or propaganda in order not to heat-up the market.
However, he pointed out that since they have gone to media houses to rubbish his good name and position, even though all their lies cannot convince anybody, he deemed it very imperative to break his continued silence in order to put matters straight for avoidance of doubt.
According to the quintessential chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba there is no truth in all they are saying.
“They are figments of a befuddled mind, scurrilous rumours and rantings of disgruntled elements who feel threatened by the transparent and result-oriented administration of the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR), which he is also replicating at Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba.
He disclosed that the contractor-financiers masquerading under the guise of ‘Consign Traders’ of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba are behind all the illegal building projects in the market whether completed, about to be completed or completely stalled following the advent of the new administration in the state.
The chairman likened their palpable sense of loss and desperation to that of a drowning man who clutches at every straw. He said that he is not surprised the way they are going about their predicament and pitied them for their shamelessness.
Otherwise, how could they have alleged that I collected N200m from the state government to come and demolish Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba and also brought strangers into the market to mark 3, 000 shops for demolition alleging further that after rebuilding the shops, each shop owner would pay the sum of N10m to reclaim his or her shop.
The chairman disclosed that he has all their dirty records or shady deals on top of his table adding that any day he decides to open any of their cases there would be rumblings in the market to the extent that they would pray for the ground to open and swallow them.
According to him, some of them issued dud cheques to traders and carted away their goods and when they were apprehended they promised to pay but they have not done so till date while others who stole in the market were caught.
He wondered why they are fighting him and inciting the traders to kick against the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba.
He called on them to repent and retrace their steps, and toe the path of peace instead of inciting the traders against the administration of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti.
The chairman stated that despite all the rubbish they are saying, the truth is that they cannot stop the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba.
He declared that Dr. Alex Otti is a man of his words and will surely carry out the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba without let or hindrance.
He described their apparent posturing as self-serving and advised them to accept the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba in good faith (both in spirit and letter) adding that the traders and the entire state would benefit.
He warned them to tread with caution henceforth and refrain from utterances or acts capable of setting the market on fire.
Comrade Emeka Okeke described Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba as one of the best markets in Nigeria adding that its remodelling would attract more customers and investors from far and near.
The decision to remodel Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba is no mere hearsay.
The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti during his on-the-spot visit to assess the extent of work done so far on Ehi Road and Kent Street, Aba on Friday, March 8, 2024 restated his firm resolve to remodel Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba earlier communicated to the traders through the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu to the hearing of all and sundry.
Addressing the jubilant traders of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba at Ehi Road by Kent, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti said that the road is strategic to the market and assured them that the contractor would deliver the road on time before the beginning of rainy season.
The traders danced, jubilated and hailed him for coming to their rescue adding that they can now move their goods in and out of the market with ease and expressed joy that the road would soon be commissioned with streetlights.
The chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, Comrade Emeka Okeke lauded Dr. Alex Otti for his monumental achievements in Abia State within a short time in office, especially construction and rehabilitation of roads, prompt payment of workers salaries and pension arrears.
He extolled Dr. Alex Otti for rehabilitating Ehi Road and Kent Street, Aba which he said were neglected by the past administrations in the state.
He expressed the hope that Dr. Alex Otti would do more for them in the days to come and eulogized him as ‘Akpo Aza’ (ever ready) and ‘Odogwu Kariri Odogwu’ (man pass man) for doing them proud.
He prayed God to grant him many more years, strength and wisdom as he pilots the affairs of Abia State to greater height.
He appealed to the traders to support Dr. Alex Otti’s administration by paying all government approved levies.
Comrade Emeka Okeke also appreciated the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu for his untiring efforts and sagacity, which he said have united Abia markets for good.
Comrade Emeka Okeke was appointed as the chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba on June 29, 2023.
Since then he has been piloting the affairs of the market to the admiration of the traders.
Immediately on assumption of office he cleared all the heaps of refuse in the market at his own expense and mandated all the zones to keep the market clean at all times as well as to sweep their surroundings at the close of business each day.
He also restored the market to its former glory as the most peaceful and cleanest market in Abia State.
What is more? He made God the bedrock of his administration and made sure that a cordial relationship exists among the traders and the government.
He averred that the market under his watch has been so peaceful and would continue to remain peaceful.