In his bid to ensure harmony among Imo traders and a conducive business environment, President of Imo State Almagamated market traders Association, ISAMATA, Hon Emmanuel Ezeanochie over the weekend stormed Orlu Timber market located along Owerri Road where it was reported that soldiers barred traders from accessing their shops and met with the various stakeholders after which the traders were allowed to open their shops for business.
According to one of the Timber dealers who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity, “after meeting with the leadership of ISAMATA we were asked to go and open our shops for business”.
It was gathered that the Soldiers got a security alert that owing to the refusal of traders to open their shops on the day Nnamdi Kanu was to be taken to court, bandits planned to launch attack in the area through the market.
Speaking at the Timber market, Ezeanochie told the traders that their intervention was prompted by calls from traders who notified them that they had no access to their shops.
He said, contrary to the speculation that the Imo State government directed the closure, it was purely a security issue, adding that the government of senator Hope Uzodinma means well for Imo traders and will continue to support us on the area of market development.
He used the opportunity to resolve the age-long leadership tussle in the market which he achieved after he had engaged all the traders and stakeholders in a brainstorming session on how to ensure a lasting peace. At the end of the meeting, the traders resolved to settle for one Mr Emeka Ogidi who they said still had 6 months to go before crisis erupted in the Market.
It was agreed that Ogidi should now serve out his tenure as already decided by Court and conduct election for new executive.
