…says viral video handiwork of enemies to tarnish the image of the State government
Leadership of Ochanja Central market, Onitsha, Anambra State has denied viral video in social media that heavy flood sacked traders in the market on Wednesday.
Chairman of the market, Chief Bonaventure Muo, who stated this in a chat with reporters, described the rumour as handiwork of enemies of the State targeted at tarnishing the image of the market and State government.
He said the clarification followed directive by Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ifeanyi Okoma, through chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Emeka Orji.
He said, “Such thing never happened in my market or within our environment. Ochanja has three markets, namely Ochanja Central market, Ochanja Environment market and Ochanja Area market, and none of them have witnessed severe flooding for the past three years now.
“It is the handiwork of enemies of the State who want to tarnish the image of the market and possibly the State government. I called chairmen of the markets around us and they said such did not happen both in their markets and anywhere around them.
“I don’t see reason why they connected this to our market. The rain that fell yesterday night was slight, not severe, so how come? Is it to attract Government attention, Commissioners for Environment, Works or what?
“The Commissioner of Works that drew my attention to this video did well as he wants me to find out if it is true. It is the height of irresponsibility for one to have the time to insert falsehood in the social media.
“Even the flood that comes from inland town Onitsha, enters into the two deep gutters along the road and through the Sakamori, it is channelled into the river Niger.”
Market Secretary, Obinna Maduka described the report as mere allegation by enemies of progress to drag image of the market to ridicule.
“There has not been such flooding for three years now because since the construction of the two drainages along the road that passed through our market, the flooding from inlandtown has been controlled.
“So it is not in our market that such video was taken and not within the markets around our environment. It is just to tarnish the image of our market by enemies of progress,” he added.