Residents of Ughelli and it’s environs, have commended the operation keep Ughelli North clean embarked upon by the administration of Olorogun Jaro Movudu Egbo, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Olorogun Jaro Egbo, following the expiration of the ultimatum issued to traders trading along roadside and walkway in Ughelli markets, embarked on a clean up exercise to give Ughelli North a new face look.
However, the exercise was married with condemnation as some traders who make-shift stores were destroyed, described the actions of the local government council chairman as witch hunt.
Speaking during the exercise Olorogun Jaro Egbo said, “It is the collection of money that brought the recent crisis and we are asking them to go and occupy the empty stores in the market.
“I will continue to monitor the traders until strict compliance.
“Times may be hard but this no an excuse to break the law as others has the right of passage.” Egbo insisted.
Commending the exercise a road users who identified his name as Oghenemine said, “If this is only thing the chairman achieved in his tenure, it will forever be remembered by some of us.
“Those trading by the roadside especially at the Ughelli main market are something, they place their wares at the center of the road not minding the hazard attached and when you dare to say anything,you are gone in their hands.
“In the evening, motorists find it difficult to go through the market and the most painful aspect of it is, you will see the traders dumping their waste on the road without caution.
“If Olorogun Jaro Egbo can do a follow up on this exercise, some of us will be very happy. The exercise should be a continued one and constant monitoring but it should not be a violent one.
At the Otovwodo market, Mr Okagbare said, “Traders are naturally stubborn if not, what would stop them from either going to the space provided for them at Okogbe street or the Ughelli/Ogor modern market that has been prepared for them.
The previous local government council chairman, Olorogun Godwin Adode, before he left office renovated the modern market and stores were allotted to traders but those who own stores refused to relocate to that place for a reason known to them.
“It is painful that after the renovation, allotment of stores and fumigation of that modern market, nothing is happening there, and if Olorogun Jaro Egbo can take them there, personally I will be grateful.”
Condemning the actions of the local government council, a trader whose shop demolished said, “The action of the local government council to destroy our shops at the time is witch hunting.
Speaking anonymously the trader said, “We are approaching the Christmas season and as traders, it is the period we refund loans.
“The stores behind the Baptist church as stated are at the foundation level and nobody can go there until they are completed.
Another trader who lamented the untold hardship the demolition has caused her said, I am a widow with four children and i have been managing this kiosk to feed and send the children to school but now whe have been sent home without making any proper provisions.
“The chairman would have allowed us to finish the Christmas market to enable some of us to refund our loans before embarking on this demolition exercise.”
