Chaos erupted on Tuesday morning at the ever-busy Oba Ovonramwen Square, popularly known as Ring Road in Benin City, Edo State, as market women from Oba Market staged a protest against an eviction notice issued by the state government ahead of planned renovation work on the fire-ravaged section of the market.
The women blocked the major road, causing heavy gridlock and forcing traffic to be diverted to adjoining streets. Their protest later moved to the Edo State House of Assembly, where they sought government intervention.
New Telegraph recalls that Oba Market was among five markets gutted by fire at the wake of the 2020 governorship election in Edo State. The immediate past governor, Godwin Obaseki, had promised to rebuild the affected markets, a pledge that was not fulfilled, leaving the burnt portions to deteriorate into waste dumps. However, Governor Monday Okpebholo, during a recent visit to the market, vowed to rebuild the gutted areas.
Following his visit, the market women were issued a two-month notice, expiring at the end of January, to vacate the premises for renovation to commence.
Speaking during the protest, Mrs. Florence Eweka said the women were taken by surprise by the sudden directive for all traders to leave the market. According to her, “The problem was that they announced that they want to rebuild the gutted part of the market close to Bob Izua Park. They have started working on it, but they just announced that all the market women should leave the market. Where do you want them to go to? There should be a preparation to where to go to before you send them out. The Ekiosa Market they
are rebuilding has not been completed yet. Those ones are in problem, they are stranded, where do you want us to go? Prepare a place for them before moving them out of this place.” She said.Another trader, Mrs. Mary Okosun, who operates four shops with six employees, also questioned where she was expected to relocate. “I have four shops in the market, with six workers, where do you want me to take those wares to? How do you want those persons to feed from? They are asking us to leave here by the end of January. Where do they want us to pack to? If they want us to pack, they should make provisions for us. Those in other markets are stranded; where do they want us to pack to?” she said.
Addressing the protesters, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, appealed for calm and assured the women that their concerns would be conveyed to Governor Okpebholo. He said the governor’s intention was to rebuild the market for the benefit of the traders.
“We are your representatives, and any problem that is brought before us here will be sorted out. The governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, meant well for that your market, because those areas gutted by fire have been turned into toilet. He wants to renovate the market. But you are saying that not all the market was gutted. So we are going to pass the information to him. The area that was burned down will be first rebuilt, then you people will move in there, then the other parts will be rebuilt. The governor wants a better market for you all,” he said.
