By Ogbagah Matthias
UGHELLI – DETERMINED to bring an end to the long aged crisis between Otor-Iwhreko and Ekiugbo-Ughelli communities both of Ughelli kingdom in Ughelli north local government area, Delta State, HRM (Dr.) Wilson Ojakovo Oharisi III the ovie (monarch) of Ughelli kingdom said Ughelli main market is neither for Otor-Iwhreko nor Ekiugbo communities but for government.
The monarch made the statement recently at his palace during the meeting of stakeholders of the kingdom, top security agencies in the council area and leaders of traders association of Ughelli main market.
According to him, during the era of Governor Ogbemudia as the military governor of the then defunct Bendel State in the 70s, he built the market and named it “Ughelli Market” not ‘Otor-Iwhreko or Ekiugbo market’.
He noted that Iwhreko was then a street within Ughelli kingdom, Otor-Iwhreko is interchangeable with Ughelli meaning Ughelli urban.
While giving October 1, 2021 as the deadline for all roadside traders to vacate the road for easily flow of movement and to bring permanent end to the fight between the two communities, he noted that the market is ughelli market not Ekiugbo or Iwhreko market therefore nobody should lay claim to it.
“The market is Ughelli market, Governor Ogbemudia built the market and named it Ughelli market not Ekiugbo or Iwhreko market therefore nobody should lay claim to it hence we said nobody should go there to collect revenue from any trader, the revenue from the market is for government because the market belong to government therefore the revenue from the market should be used to pay the security personnel to be deploy.
“Roadside trading and illegal revenue collections in Ughelli main market and Otovwodo markets are hereby cancelled, defaulters will be arrested and pay a fine of N50, 000.00 each failure to pay he/she will be prosecuted in accordance with the law of the land and resolutions of this meeting”.
While clarifying issues bothering the market name, he said, ‘Iwhreko’ means Ughelli, a name that is synonymous with Ughelle.
Earlier, the President of Ekiugbo communities, Comrade Bernard Baker expressed dissatisfaction why the council chairman, Hon. Godwin Adode and Otor-Iwhreko community deliberately absence themselves from the meeting, he therefore urged the state government and the monarch to summon he (Hon. Godwin Adode) for questioning and to explain what he uses the security vote of the council from the state government for.
While giving condition for declare the Ughelli ultra model market open for traders, he noted that the delay in taken off of the market was caused by deliberate removal of Ughelli name from the market signboard, he ensured that once the name of Ughelli is included in the signpost the market will be open for activities.