At least 30 shops have washed away electric poles, underground cables, water borne pipes, among others exhumed by surging flood at Ogbaru Relief (Main) market, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State.
Taking his executive members and newsmen round the portions which the flood left in its trail gulley erosions and other damages on Saturday, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief David Obidike, who was flanked by a former chairman of the market, Chief Victor Nwawuzie Akirika, said the incident happened within the week.
He appealed to the three tiers of government to come to their rescue.
He recalled that, “one of the nights few days ego, the Chief security officer of the market and told me that devastating flood from Awada Area, has carried the market as the flood entered under the Sakamori (drainage) system in the market and uprooted it, thereby wrecking havoc in the market”
“The damages were much, about 30 shops were washed away with the wares therein, the electric armoured cables, big water borne pipe and telephone cables buried underground were all exhumed and damaged by the flood.
“As I talk now we have not gotten power supply for a month since the rainy season started and you can’t make a call, the market is in blackout and traders are using generator sets.
“Our market is in danger because it is situated in the notorious Upper Iweka axis, these hoodlums can easily come into the market through the damaged portions caused by the erosion menace”
“We thank God that we have watertight security outfit and since I assumed office as the chairman nobody has reported that his wares have been looted or stolen.
“I plead to our state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and his hard working Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Hon. Obinna Ngonadi, including the Federal Government and all the National Assembly members within Ogbaru Federal constituency to come to our rescue as the extent of damages done is beyond our financial capability”
“We are making this appeal because if the rain comes again more harm will be done to the market let alone if the rainy season is over and nothing tangible done,” he said.
Reacting, Chief Akirika, said that, “the flood has caused huge gulley erosions that affected many shops and this problem started early this rainy season. If nothing is done to it before the end of the rainy season, it will sack everyone in the market.
We urge our Governor to come to our rescue, I remember I worked on a damaged portion when I was the chairman of the market, but what we are seeing now is beyond the financial strength of the leadership of the market headed by a God-fearing man, Chief David Obidike”
“The flood is from Awada down to old Aba park and finally to the Ogbo Azu. The foot of the market fly-over between the Relief Market and Lagos Park is gradually being touched by the erosion, so our governor and Federal Government should do something now before it becomes too late”
In his contribution, the patron of the Relief Market traders Forum, Mr Andrew Oguine, described the market chairman, Obidike as a self less and Godly person who the State Government fished out to rescue the market from enemies of progress and urged the state government to assist him .
In their various remarks, the executive members that included, Chief Obieze Mmaduebuka and Chief Dennis Okeke, lamented that the present ugly situation is giving them sleepless night as their wares are in danger even as victims of the erosion menace called on the government and good spirited individuals and corporate bodies to come to their rescue.