From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria yesterday called on the Market Women Leader of Edo State, Blacky Ogiemien to give account of the N100 million allegedly given to the association in 2013 by former governor Adams Oshiomhole.
The group, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Mrs Edna Omoregbe and others, which was made available to journalists in Benin, alleged that during the first tenure of Governor Godwin Obaseki, he gave 25 cows and 500 bags of 50kg of rice to Ogiemien to share to the association, sadly, she sent two cows each to Edo Central and Edo North, with about 30 bags of rice sent to both zones, thereby diverting 460 bags of 50kg rice and 21 cows for her personal use.
She said this was also the case with the fabrics sent to Edo Market Women where she allegedly diverted over 8,000 pieces for her personal use to the detriment of market women.
Mrs Omoregbe said troubled by this development for which only a few were captured above, despite their long and continuous complaints and protest against such act, Mrs Ogiamen has continued with her action of sidelining members of the association.
According to her, “We recall with pains that in 2013, Oshiomhole as a way of assisting poor traders in Edo Market, gave a grant of N100 million and same was sent through the Edo State Market Women Association’s account which Ogiamen was a major signatory and she personally superintendend over the fund.
“She diverted same and ensured that only her cliques in Edo South got peanuts and nobody received the said grant in Edo Central and North.
“We were later informed that the said funds was diverted into her personal enterprise,” Omoregbe alleged.
She added that despite what the former governor did for the association, they were surprised to see Ogiamen in the media laying curses on him.
The secretary said following the above and the need to salvage the image of the association, they have resolved to pass a vote of no confidence on her.
When contacted, Madam Ogiamen denied the allegation, saying it was politically motivated and that the money was paid into the account of the association and disbursed to all that were supposed to get.
She noted that Orukpe is not a member of their association.
