Nsukka royal fathers, PGs, others commend Mbah on proposed ultra modern market

Traditional rulers, town union presidents-general, and stakeholders in Enugu North Senatorial Zone of Enugu State have commended the governor of the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, for the proposed ultra modern market at Nru, Ede-Oballa and Eha-Alumona boundaries in Nsukka local government area.

Reading a letter conveying government’s plan to a meeting of the royal fathers, PGS, and stakeholders of the zone at Nsukka Local Government headquarters, Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, said the purpose of the meeting was to ensure that there was a collective acceptance of the project by the concerned communities.

Igwe Asadu, who is also the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, maintained that the construction of the ultra modern market required maximum cooperation by all to ensure its speedy realisation as planned by the government.

“We have only one agenda here and that is to discuss about the proposed new ultra modern market by the state government. We are faced with a new phase, so no need going back to the old phase. Development is what is about coming to our place. My duty is to ensure that the right thing is done and it is my duty to use my good offices to maintain peace at all times,” he said.

In his address, a renowned stakeholder in Enugu North, Hon. Chinedu Onu, while expressing his happiness over the development, said that the intention of the Enugu State government to build an ultra modern market in Nsukka was an opportunity that should be welcomed with two hands.

According to him, the government had the right to use land in any part of the state in overriding public interest, urging the communities involved to ensure maximum cooperation between them and the government in order to attract more projects to the zone.

“The governor we have today is an empathic governor. He feels the pulse of his subjects. Today, Nsukka has notable sons in government and they are ensuring that the dividends of democracy get to their people.

“The acquisition of this land started during the tenure of our son, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Today, the new government wants to complete it to 100 hectares and give Nsukka one of best markets anyone can think of. So, what we have to do now is to support them and make sure that this comes to fruition,” he said.

Speaking, the traditional ruler of Ede-Oballa community, Igwe Christian Asogwa, maintained that the involvement of the stakeholders of the community by the government showed Governor Mbah’s democratic dispositions in dealing with the people.

According to him, they had already lost hope of the market since the past administration came to them asking for a land to build a world-class market for the people of Nsukka, but today their hope had been rekindled as the present administration was out to start the project in earnest.

“Since the state has involved us in this, we will not have any option than to give them our blessings. At a point, we started asking ourselves whether the government had lost interest in building the modern market for us, because the former administration started this process, but they couldn’t complete it. But thank God that today, we have a governor, who is out to build the market for our people. Yes, market ushers in development in a society and adds value to the community lands. We pray it comes to fruition,” Igwe Asadu said.

On his Part, the traditional ruler of Agbamere, Eha-Alumona, Igwe Simon Ugwu, commended Governor Mbah, saying that his people were strongly behind the government to build the market for the interest of all.

“The Lord has remembered Nsukka land, as this move will go a long way in giving Nsukka a face-lift and boost economic activities in the zone,” he said.

In his own remark, the traditional ruler of Eziama Edem Nsukka, Igwe Linus Akugwu, lauded the governor for his good intentions, assuring that the land, which was earlier given to the state government during the past administration for the market was still intact. He said that anyone, who encroached on the said land had done so at his own peril.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Ogige Market Traders Association, Ngozika Ozioko, popularly known as Mama G, had equally commended the governor for finding Nsukka worthy of such wonderful proposed project. She maintained that though the demolition of the Ogige for the purpose of building the Modern Transport Terminal affected some people, it was common knowledge that development all over the world come
with temporary inconveniences.

She said that the traders of Ogige Market were happy with the news of the proposed market, asserting that although some felt the impact of the change going on at Ogige Market, Nsukka, everyone had realised that it was necessitated by development.

“The truth is that the demolition of Ogige Market was not targeted at hurting anyone. It is a development that is coming and it has this way of affecting some persons, who will still later enjoy the benefit of the change that is coming.

“The governor is just one year in office. By the time he will be clocking four years in the office, we will be seeing wonders in all the entire state. May God bless governor Peter Mbah and give him the strength to complete his good works in Enugu,” Mrs Ozioko said.