Orie Okporo Market Developer Decries Falsehood, Gives Insight on MOU, Sues For Peace Over Market Management

ThankGod Emeh, Owerri.

The good people of Okporo Orlu in Imo state, shop ownerse and traders in Orie Okporo International market has been urged to embrace peace as the lasting solution to the alleged lingering crisis rocking the management of Orie Okporo market.

The developer of the market and Chief Executive Officer of Valentino Da Vinci, Chief Valentine Ibenye Ugbala stressed this while addressing newsmen in Owerri recently to give insights in some false claims making rounds in the media about traders and indigenes in of the three autonomous communities (Amanato, Udogadi and Isiala) housing the market.

Chief Ugbala who frowned at the manner how some mischievous elements from the locality went to the media (Megaband 97.3Fm Owerri and Edge Express Newspaper Owerri page 11 on 11th January 2021) to spread false information about the development and management of Orie Okporo market as well as an attempted kidnap/assassination of him on 3rd January, 2021 at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Okporo Orlu noted that the role of Valentino Da Vinci in the market is legal; duly signed and sealed by the state government, Okporo communities and the developing company in 2018, adding that he survived a kidnap attempt which is now being investigated by the Police.

He said Valentino Da Vinci worked on the building plan, specifications and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the three parties in upgrading the market to international standard and best in Imo adding that the company was authorised to manage the market for a period of 15 years.

“It is duly signed that: The Imo state government gave right to the developer to develop the entire Orie Okporo market without an financial takeoff-support from the former as all expenses shall be borne b the developer but at the end of the day; the developer will be in the market to manage it for a period of 15years to enable him recoup his money on investment……..and that the original shop owners and traditional rulers/owners of the land whose structures are affected b the construction of the market will be compensated through shop allocation and where free-zones are constructed; shops will be allocated at no cost but if constructed as Lock-up shops-shops will be allocated at the cost of Four hundred thousand naira only (#400,000) as building cost at that time”

Chief Valentine Ugbala expressed disaffection over the unruly activities of Udogadi community members and leaders to solely take over the management of Orie Okporo market with claims that the market is in their immediate domain.

“I have never claimed and will never claim ownership of Orie Okporo market. I’m just a developer mandated to manage the property for 15 years ”

He recalled that his duty as the developer of Orie Okporo market started when he applied and was awarded the contract after “the Imo state government through the Ministry of Non-Formal Sector/Market Development (now Commerce and Industry) on 12^th January 2018 wrote a letter to the three (3) communities in okporo through the Traditional rulers who own the market notifying them of upgrading the market to an international standard. The letter was signed by the Permanent Secretary with Reference No- MISMD/AD/SSS/F.1B.1/1 in line with the policy of government”

“I applied for the contract as a developer and was duly appointed the sole developer to a letter of 24^th January, 2018 and signed by the Permanent Secretary with reference –MMSMD/F.001.03 and after approval, we mobilized to site and laid the foundation stone on 2^nd February, 2018,” the Chief Executive disclosed.

Also speaking, the President-General of Okporo Middle-Aged Association, OMAA, Barr. Robert Oderah who expressed deep concern for the peace, growth and development of the good people of okporo and how things have fallen apart vis-à-vis the Orie Okporo market noted that a Seven, 7-man committee with two (2)members from each of the three (3)communities with himself as the 7^th member was constituted and mandated to look into the lingering crisis and bring a lasting solution.

Barr. Oderah emphasized that the 7-man committee had made consultations with the management of Nnempi and Nworieubi markets’ MoU to ascertain how differently they are being managed but learnt that the documents, terms and conditions were all in tandem with that of Orie Okporo market.

Orie Okporo Market shops

He thanked the CEO of Valentino Da Vinci, Chief Valentine Ibenye Ugbala for doing a great job and for constructing a hundred and twenty-six (126)shops to replace forty (40) initial shops for original shop owners as well as sue for peace for the warrying communities and parties.

“We need peace to bring our community to limelight. We need peaceful resolutions to these matters”

One of the 7-man committee members, Chief Frederick Nwaike said the committee has been instrumental in concrete attempts to bring peace in the area as regards Orie Okporo market and will not relent while thanking the developer for transforming the market and following due process to resolve issues and matters arising in the market.

Another indigene of Okporo Orlu, Pastor Ifeanyichukwu Ukaegbu who expressed worry over the ugly development in Orie Okporo market in recent times stressed corruption and greed to be the bone of contention from Udogadi community but advised that equity be served by all and sundry to bring back the long enjoyed peace of Okporo communities,

Pastor Ukaegbu also commended Valentino Da Vinci Nigeria Limited for constructing an international standard market for the people.

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