By CHARLES IWUOHA

Victims of the demolished Eke Ukwu market during the administration of Senator Rochas Okorocha, including the father of the late Somto, have expressed their gratitude to governor Hope Uzodimma for rebuilding the market with state of the art facilities.

The traders who visited the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Comrade Simon Ebegbulem, at the Ministry, lamented their plight in the hands of the Okorocha-led administration and appealed to Governor Uzodimma to assuage their pains by ensuring that their shops were returned to them as promised by the Governor.

The traders who were led by their Attorney, Barr Chima Anozie, and High Chief Bright Onyemeh, went to the office of the Commissioner to identify with the present shared prosperity government led by Governor Uzodimma in order to ensure that those who were allegedly victimised by the Okorocha administration were compensated.

Addressing the Commissioner, Barr. Anozie recalled that the traders who were doing well in their various businesses, faced humiliation and de-humanisation by the Okorocha administration without remorse, regretting how that government demolished their shops without compensation.

“We are happy that today we have a God sent governor who has decided to build a modern Eke-Ukwu market. We are here to appeal to the Governor to assist these traders who suffered this humiliation under Rochas to retain their shops at a subsidised rate as promised by His Excellency,” Barr. Anozie said.

Responding, Commissioner Ebegbulem, who was visibly pained with the sight of late Somto’s father and the aged traders, explained that Governor Uzodimma decided to rebuild the market to a modern one in order to assuage their pains.

“Like His Excellency did promise you on the day of the ground breaking, you people will be given concession and will enjoy a state of the art market. Our Dear governor has come to serve the people in truth and in spirit and he will ensure that you people are happy. So don’t bother yourselves, God has answered your prayers already,” Ebegbulem said.

Present at the meeting included Prince Obinna Obiekweihe, the Managing Director of the Amanda Group, the developer handling the market project.