By Daniel Dafe
Oasis Magazine has learnt that there will be no trading activities in the Abraka main market for seven days starting from tomorrow (Monday) as the market women will begin a seven-day protest and alongside place curses on politicians they alleged are planning to demolish the market.
A trader at the market who disclosed this to Oasis Magazine, added that they were chased out of the market on Sunday by vigilante members.
According to the source who spoke under conditions of anonymity, they have purchased a casket with which they will move around the university town for 7 days to place curses on politicians planning to demolish the market and bury the caskets at the end of the seven days.
Part of the reason for their protest he said is to register their displeasure over alleged moves by the council chairman to drag them to court for not cooperating with his plans to handover the market to private individuals to run.
But, in a phone conversation with Hon. Ofobrukueta, he denied any plans to take the traders to court.
His words: “Take market women to court over what? Well there is nothing like that. I am not planning to take anybody to court. Such allegations are just figments of their imagination. What are they doing that we should take them to court?”
Asked what the latest on the privatization of the market is, he said: “No we are still talking; we are still discussing. Government is the owner of market. We are still talking and once we are through with our dialogue, we will get back to you guys.”
On the planned protests by the women, he warned that they will not allow the traders desecrate the market, adding that they must give peace a chance and be ready to flow along with his adminstration that is determined to see to their welfare.
Also, speaking to Oasis Magazine on Sunday, a vigilante leader in the community who does not want his identity revealed, denied the allegations that they chased traders out of the market.
According to.him, they acted on orders to see to it that every trader takes away whatsoever could bring them to the market within the seven days, stressing that it was about 7p.m. on Sunday they arrived at the market which he said was during closing hours of their market activities.
He also warned that any woman that comes out for protests from tomorrow will be sent to the police cell and face the consequences.