Oginigba Community Commends Obio/Akpor Chairman For Reopening Their Market

Thursday, October 17, 2024, marked what the people of Oginigba community, especially their women described as a new dawn and a turning point in the history of the community.
It was the day respite came to them after nearly one year of being taken out of business, following the grabbing of their slaughter market by the immediate past Governor, now FCT Minister, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
But, with the recent conduct of the Local Government Election in Rivers State, on 5th October, 2024, the new Executive Chairman, Amb. (Hon.) Chijioke Ihunwo, thought it wise and proper to reopen the market for them to start doing their businesses.
So, on Thursday, 17th October, the Chairman arrived the area to a rousing welcome by the natives of Oginigba community, comprising of chiefs, elder, women and youths.
He was received by the CDC Chairman, Chief Onunwor Amadi, on behalf of the community.
While reopening the market, the Obio/Akpor Chairman, Amb. (Hon.) Chijioke Ihunwo expressed happiness over the enthusiasm shown by the natives over his desire and decision to reopen the market.
He said for nearly one year now, difficulties over the grabbing of their only popular market, which he noted was the major source of their livelihood.
The Chairman recalled that it was the situation that triggered off series of massive protests that lasted for several months by the community people.
According to him, the essence of democracy is to deliver good governance, adding that that is what he has come to do.
Ihunwo thanked the people of Oginigba community for voting for him en mass during the last Local Government Election in the state, assuring that he will keep faith with them.
He charged them to make adequate use of the opportunity provided by his reopening of the market to better their means of livelihood.
Earlier, the CDC Chairman of Oginigba community, Chief Onunwor Amadi, had thanked the Obio/Akpor Council Chairman for thinking it wise and proper to reopen the market, adding that the entire community is agog with his effort, and described it a very welcome development.
“Chairman Sir, your reign as Chairman of Obio/ Akpor has been fruitful, right from the time of your Caretaker to this period. Indeed you are a performer, and we are very happy with you, and will continue to be with you”, Amadi expressed.
The CDC Chairman noted that barely few weeks as Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Chijioke Ihunwo did not procrastinate in reopening the Oginigba Youth Association (OYA), sealed for over four years, as a result of the youths crisis that erupted shortly after _their election, and commended him for the effort.
He reiterated his thanks and appreciation to the Council Chairman, and prayed God Almighty to continue to strengthen him as he keeps delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
A woman community leader from one of the three villages that make up Oginigba, who gave her name as Mrs. Felicia Nma Ariolu, told National Point Newspaper that God has come to answer the prayers of Oginigba people over the past nearly one year ago, through the new Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, stressing that the entire community is very happy with the latest development.
“Indeed, it is heartwarming,” she said, pointing out that good governance is good, and that’s what everybody has been craving for.
Mrs. Ariolu recalled that greed, fraud, corruption, and penchant to corner what belongs to the people, was what goaded the immediate past Governor of the state, now FCT Minister to heartlessly grab the slaughter market to his advantage, without considering the welfare of the people of Oginigba community.
“I appreciate God Almighty for bringing back part of our land via the current Council Chairman”, she said, and prayed God to continue to guard and protect him.
For Elder Nyeche Chinda, “the new Executive Chairman of Obio/ Akpor is a young vibrant leader, ruler, and great democrat of our time, who has come with clean hands to showcase his political and administrative potentials”.
Elder Chinda expressed joy over the restoration of part of their community land, adding that “our market will bounce back to life, and our women will now have a place to buy and sell”.
He regretted what he termed man in humanity to man, insisting that because of power one man had the temerity to expropriate our land, our market, saying that the slaughter market had existed even before the Nigerian civil war wondering what could give Wike what he described as the “raw impetus” to grab such a gigantic market.
“That slaughter market was one of our major sources of income with which we carry out meaningful community projects”, he explained, observing that “our women buy and sell there, our youths worked there, and our CDC collects revenue there on behalf of the community, only for one man to set his selfish and greedy eyes there. It’s too bad”, he lamented.
Elder Nyeche Chinda thanked the Council Chairman for doing the needful, urging him to keep it up, as according to him, “God Almighty will continue to bless Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo.”
One of the Oginigba community youth leader, who introduced his name as Comrade Franklin Chinedu Ezeli told National Point that, “you cannot imagine the quantum of joy in my heart today.
Really the Chairman has shown capacity and capability to perform and deliver on his mandate by reopening our market, and this has caused us celebration in the community”. Comrade Ezeli strongly pledged the loyalty, support and commitment of the youths of Oginigba community to the Obio/Akpor Council Chairman.