As political parties intensify campaigns ahead of the next week’s election in Edo State, the President of the State Market Women Association, ESMWA, Madam Blacky Ogiamen and the former Governor of the State, Adams Oshiomhole have engaged in a war of words over the N200 million for market women.
Newspot reports that the former governor, now representing Edo North senatorial district in the Senate, alleged during a recent campaign that in 2013, he gave the market women the sum of N200 million for traders.
Speaking at a protest by the market women, Blacky Ogiamen denied receiving the sum of N200 million from the administration of Adams Oshiomhole, as governor of the state in 2013.
Ogiamen, while addressing newsmen at the popular Ekiosa Market in Benin also denied any involvement in the burning of a section of the market.
The ESMWA President who was flanked by members from across the three Senatorial Districts of the state, however, accused Senator Oshiomhole of tarnishing her image and reputation by spreading falsehood against her.
She alleged that Adams Oshiomhole had during the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship campaign rally in Benin told some people including Ekiosa market women that his administration gave her N200 million for the market women.
She said the former governor had in 2013 donated the sum of N100 million to the association during its end-of-year ceremony.
Ogiamen posited that the said N100 million was promptly and fairly shared amongst members who attended the end-of-year ceremony.
She, however, wondered why the former governor was hell-bent on tarnishing her image because of politics.
“In 2013, the governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, being our patron donated the sum of one hundred million Naira to the Edo State Market Women Association, not Madam Blacky Ogiamen, during our ends of year party that year.
“The money was paid into the association’s Zenith Bank account, not into my personal account. The leader of the committee that shared the money was the late Madam Atiti Awerioba while Late Grace Erhabor and Madam Alice Omogui Osague, then leaders of Uhunmwande and Ikpoba-Okha distributed to their members in their areas.
“Oshiomhole came to Ekiosa market and told the traders that he gave Madam Blacky N200 million on behalf of the Edo State market women and added that I was the one that sent boys to set fire on the market.
“So, we are here this morning to swear if actually what he said about me is true and if not through, this juju should go after anybody that is lying against me.
“He wants to tarnish my name because of politics, I did not burn any market nor send anybody to do so. He never gave me any money on behalf of the association let alone two hundred million Naira. He lied against me”, she said.
Other market women who collaborated with her narrations include market leaders in Ikpoba-Okha, Esan West, Ovia South-West and Ovia North-East, Madam Alice Agbonlahor, Madam Clara Odionkhere, Deaconess Elizabeth Osabuohien.
Those who also refuted the allegations against the market women’s president are Madam Roseline Awevbose and the Special Adviser to the Association, Madam Christina Omokaro.
On her part, Madam Agbonlahor said the money was shared among all members that attended the end-of-year party from the 18 local government areas in Edo.
“I was the deputy leader of the Ikpoba-Okha market women association but now I am the leader”, she added.
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