Posted by In Edo State, where elections are scheduled for next week, political parties are ramping up their campaigns.
Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and President of the State Market Women’s Association (ESMWA), Madam Blacky Ogiamen, have gotten into a verbal altercation over the N200 million allocated for market women.
The ex-governor, who is now a senator representing the Edo North constituency, reportedly told campaigners that he provided N200 million to market women in 2013 so they could invest in traders, according to Worldoh.
In 2013, while Adams Oshiomhole was governor of the state, Blacky Ogiamen denied obtaining N200 million from his administration while speaking during a protest by the market women.
In addition to denying any role in the fire of a section of the market, Ogiamen addressed reporters at the famous Ekiosa Market in Benin.
With support from members of all three of the state’s senatorial districts, the ESMWA president made the accusation that Senator Oshiomhole had tarnished her name by disseminating lies about her.
According to her, Adams Oshiomhole said during an APC governorship rally in Benin that his administration had given her N200 million to distribute to the women of Ekiosa Market.
During the association’s end-of-year ceremony in 2013, she mentioned that the former governor had donated N100 million.
Those who attended the end-of-year celebration were swiftly and fairly distributed the N100 million, according to Ogiamen.
But she couldn’t understand why the former governor was so intent on smearing her reputation for political gain.
“During our 2013 end-of-year party, the Edo State Market Women’s Association received a hundred million Naira from the governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, who was our patron, not Madam Blacky Ogiamen.
The funds did not go into my personal account but rather into the Zenith Bank account of the association.
The money was distributed by the late Grace Erhabor and Madam Alice Omogui Osague, who were leaders of Uhunmwande and Ikpoba-Okha, respectively.
The committee that split the money was led by the late Madam Atiti Awerioba.
On behalf of the women who shop at the Edo State market, Oshiomhole visited the Ekiosa market and informed the vendors that he had given Madam Blacky N200 million.
He then accused me of sending the boys who set fire to the market.
This morning, we’ve come together to make a solemn vow: if what he claimed about me is true, then this juju will target whoever is spreading lies about me.
I did not burn any markets nor did I send anybody to do so; he only wants to smear my reputation for political reasons.
Even less than two hundred million Naira, he never even handed me any association funds. “He lied to me,” she accuses him.
Madam Alice Agbonlahor, Madam Clara Odionkhere, Deaconess Elizabeth Osabuohien, and other prominent ladies from the Ikpoba-Okha, Esan West, Ovia South-West, and Ovia North-East markets all contributed to her narratives.
Madam Christina Omokaro, the Special Adviser to the Association, and Madam Roseline Awevbose, the head of the market women’s organization, have both denied the charges.
According to Madam Agbonlahor, who represented Edo’s 18 LGAs, the funds were distributed to all attendees of the end-of-year celebration.
According to her, she is currently the leader of the Ikpoba-Okha market women’s association, having previously served as their deputy.