At the Rumuwoji Mile one market, which was impacted by a fire in 2013, traders took to the streets in protest against claims of an attempt by certain individuals to unlawfully acquire their shops.
The protesters, consisting of both men and women, including elderly individuals, gathered at the newly constructed market in Mile axis of Port Harcourt around 1pm on Monday to initiate their demonstration.
Marching through Mile, the UTC junction, and Azikiwe Road, the predominantly female protesters reached the Government House, bearing placards with messages such as ‘We reject balloting’, ‘Allocate shops to rightful owners first’, and ‘Governor Fubara, come to our aid’, among others.
They expressed frustration over false claims made to the state government by selfish individuals, alleging that most original shop owners had passed away, leading to attempts to allocate the shops to others, a claim they vehemently refuted, stating that they are very much alive.
Addressing the media, Princess Wariso, the leader of Rumuwoji Mile one market phase 2 Genuine Owners, affirmed their determination to fight for their rights.
She declared, “We will not be intimidated. As legitimate traders of the Rumuwoji Mile 1 Market, we stand firm for our rights. When they falsely claimed we were deceased and tried to give our shops to strangers, we protested. We showed the Governor we are alive and went to court. A committee was established as a result of our actions.
“However, we are now being marginalized by the committee. Despite my expected presence during the verification process to confirm our shop allocations, I was not informed or involved. During the verification, which lasted from 8am to past 3pm, we were neglected even when a woman required urgent medical attention due to suffocation.”
In addition, shop owner Mr. Wariso Soberekon expressed concerns about being excluded from the allocation process, fearing that they would be unfairly treated and not given the chance to reclaim their shops without competition or balloting.
Meanwhile, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, speaking to the protesters, urged all original owners of shops at Mile One (Rumuwoji) Market to participate in the ongoing verification for a fair allocation process.
Fubara, represented by Dr. George Nwaeke, the State Head of Rivers State Civil Service, assured the protesters of the government’s commitment to resolving the issues through the Rivers State Government Reconciliation Committee on Lockup Shops at Mile One (Rumuwoji) Market.
He emphasized the importance of proper verification and ownership confirmation by appearing before the committee to ensure a just resolution to the controversy.
“We are fully aware of the challenges at Mile One Market and are dedicated to restoring peace and livelihoods to the traders. The committee is working diligently, and if there are any concerns of bias, please reach out to us for a satisfactory resolution.
“Violent protests will not be condoned, and the committee will continue working to refine the process for equitable outcomes,” he assured.
Reassuring the traders, Fubara emphasized the committee’s commitment to a transparent and fair allocation process that will benefit a significant percentage of the shop owners.