Amaraku, Isiala Mbano Local government area of Imo State on Friday 29th of May,2020 erupted in protest owing to the incontrollable crisis arising from the reconstruction of Orie Amaraku Market as scores of youths from different communities converged at the market square to demonstrate that the interest of few individuals could not override the interest of the populace.

Investigations revealed that sometime in September 2017 the Community Market known as Orie Amaraku was totally demolished after it was partly demolished in June 2013 on the orders of Rochas Okorocha led administration as supervised by the then SSA, Okigwe Zone Mayoral Affairs, Hon. Simeon Iwunze. The first phase of the demolition was in 2013 when Ichie Best Mbanaso was the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry. This made the occupants comprising mainly market women, artisans, okada riders and farmers engaged in different kinds of businesses in the demolished market. The majority of whom resorted to sell or hawk their wares in makeshift tents erected in and around the demolished market. The issue of who undertakes the building and reconstruction of the market created acrimony among the leaders. Under the circumstances.

Further information available to us revealed that the three president generals, the traditional rulers and youths of the Amaraku ward are saying no to erecting shops in the motor park because of the inherent danger it portents. That buses now litter along the road thereby bringing about accidents and endangering the lives of passengers of the people and road users. According to them, all these are as a result of building a shop at the motor park. They also opposed the construction of warehouses inside the motor park. We also learned that the current state government under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has appointed members from each village as a committee to oversee the rebuilding of the  project

During the protest, the youths accused the contractor, Mr. Roland Orisakwe (Okeosisi) and cohorts of building poor and substandard Market shops, adding that the poorly constructed structures were deathtrap to the prospective occupiers. He was also accused of removing the motor park and replaced it with warehouse structure which according to them was not in the original plan of the market.

They carried various placards with inscriptions such as “Okosisi must remove the illegal structure in this park”, The entire Amaraku and Local government are against this illegal structure in the park”, we don’t want Okosisi as the contractor in Orie Amaraku”, ” we have our who will develop the market” “Okosisi must leave us with his Poor quality job”, Okosisi is not a good contractor”. ” Our ancient park must be restored back”

The spokesperson of the youths Comrade Sampson Nwachi lamented that Mr. Roland Orisakwe connived with some individuals in the community to subvert the interest of the entire community. Mr. Nwachi recalled that the motor park has been in existence as far back as the traditional market, adding that loading of motor for mass transportation along the road is against the state law of Environmental Transformation Commission( ENTRACO) and as such could cause accidents. He wondered why the park would be removed and replaced it with a warehouse. According to him, “it is not the original plan of the market to erect warehouse in the area meant for motor park, “We must resist that, the local government has ordered them to demolish the structures but they refused, “The contractor and cohorts have no good intention for the people, “It is an evil act to construct a building with 8mm rod, “we the youths are not comfortable with substandard work going on in the market for future sake,” the lives of trader is in danger if such structure is allowed to stand”, nobody knows who will be the victim “, he stated.

 Mr. Nwachi further pointed out that the self-acclaimed contractor could not produce a document that certified him as the genuine Contractor of the market.

The spokesperson noted that the people were pleased by the newly constituted committee just as he implored the state government to appoint a neutral person as the Chairman, adding that the purported chairman is part of the problem of the market.