Traders at the New Artisan Livestock Market Enugu have lauded Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for wading into the protracted crisis rocking the place and subsequently reopening it for business .
News Echo recalls that the market which was closed down last December had been characterized by crisis, following litigation by a citizen of the state, one Emeka Nnaji, who is laying claimed that some portions of the market belongs to his late father, Chief Everest Nnaji.
The situation had pitched the traders and Nnaji against each other, leading to disruption of business activities in the market for some time, before the state government’s recent intervention.
Speaking with newsmen in Enugu on the peace that has returned to the market, Chairman of the Livestock traders Association of the market, Alhaji Danlandi Abubakar, said “we are indeed grateful to the Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for what he has done for us”
Abubakar noted, “This intervention in this market has further shown that Ugwuanyi is truly a man of peace, and political father of all in the state, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
“We want to use this medium to assure him and his government that we the traders in this market will continue to support his administration, and play our role as responsible and law abiding citizens”, he added.
In his comment, Patron of the Association, Alhaji Sani Mohammed, also expressed appreciation to Governor Ugwuanyi for the singular act, advising the Governor to keep up the good work he is doing in the state.
He advised the governor to always be careful with sychophants who are only interested in their personal gains.
Mohammed, who described the governor as a detrabalized Nigerian, said his administration since inception had always touched the lives of the poor masses through people-oriented programmes and policies.
He urged the governor to keep the flag flying in the people-oriented programmes.
It could be recalled that the Counsel to the Association, Olu Omotayo, who is in court through his organization, Civil Rights Realization and Advancement Network (CRRAN) over an appeal suit filed against Nnaji, had earlier petitioned the governor over the claim by Claimant that the market which was duly Gazetted and allocated to the traders by the state government belongs to his late father.
Meanwhile, Omotayo, in a letter of commendation to the governor over the restoration of peace at the market said” the Board of Trustees of the Civil Rights Realization & Advancement Network (CRRAN) writes to commend your intervention in the purported takeover of the Goat market by a private citizen purporting to be acting vide a Writ of Execution.
“You did not only intervene on the part of ensuring justice but you went further to unconditionally ordered the re-opening of the Goat Market which was closed down in December 2016.
“The action you took in respect of this matter not minding court actions taken by the Goat Market traders who were mostly of Northern extraction, against the government immediately after the closure of the market, portrays you as a political father and leader who believes in justice and fairness for all citizens irrespective of their ethnic or religious background.
The letter made available to News Echo in Enugu reads, “We further reiterate that the traders of the Goat Market are peaceful and law abiding citizens who have firm belief and respect for constituted authority and respect for the state government.
“We again join the leadership and thousands of Goat Market (New Artisan) traders to say Thank you and God bless.