A group, Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria have passed a vote of no confidence on the Edo State Market Woman Leader, Mrs. Blacky Ogiamen, owing to alleged fraudulent, oppressive, and corrupt practices within the executives.
The group also noted that in the next few days, relevant authorities will receive petitions of her infractions in Edo market.
Speaking during a press conference in Benin City, Edo State, the Secretary of the association, Mrs Edna Omoregbe said the vote of no confidence passed on Ogiamen was to salvage the image of the association.
She said, “this press conference has become necessary owing to the reality on ground, and the need to salvage our image as Traders from the antics and bad leadership of Blacky Ogiamen who has become a reoccurring decimal in the narrative of inflation, bad leadership, oppression and corruption.
She alleged that the actions and activities of Madam Blacky Ogiamien and her “co-travellers” had led to artificial scarcity and inflation in the market.
“There must be an end to oppression, intimidation and artificial scarcity and inflation in our market occasioned by the greed and callousness of Mrs. Becky Ogiamen”, she added.
The group also called on the Market Women Leader of Edo State, Blacky Ogiemien to give account of the N100 million allegedly given to the association in 2013 by the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole.
According to her, “We recall with pains and trouble that in 2013 the then Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as a way of assisting poor traders in Edo Market, gave a grant of N100 million and same was sent through the Edo State Market Women Association’s account, which Mrs. Blacky Ogiamen was a major signatory and she personally superintendent over the fund.
“She allegedly diverted same and ensured that only her cliques in Edo South got peanut and nobody received the said grant in both Edo Central and Edo North”.
They also alleged that during the first tenure of Governor Godwin Obaseki, he gave 25 cows and 500 bags of 50kg rice to Mrs. Blacky to share to the association, sadly she allegedly sent only 2 cows each to Edo Central and Edo North, with about 30 bags of rice sent to both zones, thereby allegedly diverting 460 bags of 50kg of rice and 21 cows for her personal use.
“This is also the case with fabrics sent to Edo Market Women where she again allegedly diverted over 8,000 pieces for her personal use to the detriment of the market women”.
“We are troubled by this development for which only a few were captured above, particularly despite our long and continuous complaints and protest against such act, Mrs. Ogiamen still continues with her actions of sidelining the members of the association in her deeds”.
Omoregbe, however, noted that despite what the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole has done for the association, they were so surprised to have seen Mrs. Blacky Ogiamen in the media laying curses on him.
“We strongly condemn such act of laying curses on the former Governor, Adams Oshiomhole who meant well for traders. We therefore solidarize and pray for the former
Governor for God’s protection over the satanic antics and curses by Mrs. Blacky Ogiamen.
“We, therefore, urge our market women and traders to be a little patience as the days of Mrs. Blacky Ogiamen are numbered in Edo State”.
When contacted, Mrs Blacky Ogiamen denied the allegation, saying that the allegation was politically motivated and that the money was paid into the account of the association that it was disbursed to all that were supposed to get.
