Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
A group on the auspices of Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria, has called on the Market Women Leader of Edo State, Blacky Ogiemien to account for the N100 million allegedly given to the association in 2013 by the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole.
The group in a statement read and signed by its secretary, Mrs. Edna Omoregbe and others, made available to journalists in Benin, alleged also that during the first tenure of Governor Godwin Obaseki, he gave 25 cows and 500 bags of 50kg of rice to Mrs. Blacky to be shared to the association, sadly she allegedly sent only 2 cows each to Edo Central and Edo North, with about 30 bags of rice sent to both zones, thereby presiding and diverting 460 bags of 50kg of rice and 21 cows to her personal use.
She said this is also the case with fabrics sent to Edo Market Women where she again allegedly diverted over 8,000 pieces to her personal use to the detriment of the market women.
Mrs. Omoregbe said, troubled by this development for which only a few were captured above, particularly despite their long and continuous complaints and protest against such act, Mrs. Ogiamen still continues with her actions of sidelining the members of the association in her deeds.
According to her “We recall with pains and trouble that in 2013 the then Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams 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 Mrs. Blacky Ogiamen was a major signatory and she personally superintendent over the fund.
“She diverted same and ensure only her cliques in Edo South got peanut and nobody received the said grant in both Edo Central and Edo North.
“We were later informed that the said funds was diverted into her personal enterprise”, Omoregbe alleges.
She added that despite what the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole has done for the association, they were so surprised to have seen Mrs. Blacky Ogiamen in the media laying curses on him.
The secretary said flowing from 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 that the allegation was politically motivated and that the money was paid into the account of the association that it was disbursed to all that were supposed to get and that Orukpe is not a member of their association.