Chairman of Ogige market Nsukka, DR . Mrs Ngozika Ozioko (a.k.a Mama G), has unequivocally debunked the scandal that trended on, at Ogige market concern (2000) levy.

By Ejike Okpe,  

'Mama G' Exposes The Hollowness Of The ₦2000 Levy Scandal At Ogige Market Nsukka;

Extolls The Commitment Of The City Mayor To The Combat Of COVID 19 And The Welfare Of Nsukka People.      

      

Says Ogige Market Is Complying Fully With The Goverment's Lockdown Directives, 

The Chairman Of Ogige Market, Chief Dr. Mrs Ngozika Ozioko, a.k.a, Mama G, has unequivocally debunked the scandal that trended on the social media, on April 1st, 2020, dismissing it as the handiwork of enemies who want to destsbilize, demean and take the shine off the lofty efforts she, her executives and the Local Government Area of Nsukka, have been making to protect the market and its traders and by extension, the good people of Nsukka LGA, from the ravaging claws of COVID 19 Pandemic.

It would be remembered how the social media, yesterday, became awash with the fake news that people who deal on food stuff and food related businesses, who are, accross the nation, enjoying a waiver from the lockdown, were levied ₦2000 each by the Ogige Market authorities, payable as a condition for doing businesses during the lockdown.

This, the Chairman of Ogige Market has dismised as a total falsehood.

She said, "Well, there is an adage in my place which says, "Onwero onye bu nnu na-aso oha," meaning, "No one is salt that is sweet to everybody". The enemies just wanted to use that to destsbilize and demean the efforts I and my excos and the LGA have made in the market.

"But I don't care because the people that are concerned know that I have never, ever asked for one naira from any of my traders."

Expatiating on the baselessness of the scandal while elucidating her concerted efforts to ensure safety of her traders, the quintessential market leader, said, "Since we heard about this deadly disease, I have been trying my best with my executives and other Stakehholders of the market.

"After the visitation of the Local Government Chairman and his team to our market, during which they brought us loads of sanitary buckets, sanitizers and face masks, we went back and saw that our people needed more sensitization. We bought a hundred buckets and bucket stands with bowls; we bought cartons of liquid soap; we bought sanitizers.

"We added the ones our Nsukka Local Government Area Chairman brought to us to these and kept them at some strategic places in the market.

Continuing, she said, "I did not ask my traders to pay one naira when I bought buckets, sanitizers and face masks for them. Why should I ask them to pay even one kobo for them to do their businesses?

"I even called them for a meeting where I advised them that they are risking their lives coming out to sell during the lockdown; that the line between life and death is 50/50; that those of them coming out for business should be very careful since they don't know the health status of those coming to patronize them nor the state of the money they are bringing. There, I advised them to use their hand gloves or wash their hands each time they touch money since they don't know whether or not the buyer had contracted the disease.

"However," she continued, "When I heard the rumour that, I, the Ogige Market Chairman and my workers are collecting ₦2000 from traders, I immediately instructed my  P.R.O. to go to the market and start announcing that nonody should pay a dime to anybody.

"After that I my self , I even went there with megaphone (public address system). I repeated the announcements. The traders were jubilating.

"I even asked them if anybody paid any money to anybody and they said no; that it was just a mere rumour," she added.

Restating her unreserved appreciation to the City Mayor, who she said, has "been in the fore front of the war against COVID 19", Dr. Mrs. Ozioko, fondly called Mama G, who is the first female Chairman of Ogige Market, said, "Nobody can run down the huge efforts of this Market's Union against COVID 19.

"Nobody can fault the City Mayor's doggedness in the fight against the spread of COVID 19. I am yet to see or hear of a Local Government Chairman whose zeal equals his.

"The City Mayor was the first to share sanitizers in the markets. He was the first to share buckets, handgloves and what have you. He was first to fumigate the markets, churches, prisons, streets, Local Government headquarters, e.t.c," she said.

Calling on the Ogige Market traders to keep observing the sit-at-home directive of the government religiously, she also called on the Federal, State and Local Government to extend relief material to her traders and the general public, to cushion the effects of hunger that is sure to creep in soon.

God Bless The City Mayor.