By Samuel Onyekwere
Hard times await Indian hemp smokers and other criminals in Oduade building materials market, Lagos, as the new leadership has vowed to chase away the miscreants that are giving the market a bad image.
This warning was handed down by the new chairman of the market, Chief Collins Okorie, during the inauguration of the new executive committee.
In his acceptance speech, Okorie warned that the era when people did whatever they liked in the market has passed. He sounded it loud and clear that the new exco intends to carry out sweeping reforms.
Part of the reform is to stop the activities of gamblers and fake prophets who swindle people with fake prophecies. He added that the activities of Isusu collectors (cooperative collectors) will be checked, as some of the traders have lost money to some fraudulent ones. More importantly, he said, his administration will ensure a peacefully co-existence with the host community.
He said: “We are no longer going to tolerate some excesses in the market; all the Indian hemps and smoking joints within the market environs will no longer be condoled because their activities have negatively affected the image of our market. Please, warn those that go there to patronize them. Warn them that the market authority said they should kindly steer clear of our market environs; we do not want it or want anybody apprehended because of this.
“Our administration will not take it lightly with anybody who forms group that will bring enmity between the association and our host community. We will not allow any party – landlord/tenant – to take undue advantage over the other. We will not tolorate a tenant who will not pay his/her Landlord his rents.”
Okorie, however, commended members of the union for conducting a peaceful transition from one regime to another. This, he said, happened because the members carefully choose people who will serve diligently and give their best to the growth and development of the union. A few selfish ones, he added, will come into leadership to enrich themselves and cause confusion among the traders.
He continued: “It is a thing of joy and gratitude that we are gathered here peacefully because this type of peaceful transition has eluded many unions and organizations. But, we thank God for making ours possible,” he stated.
Chief Okorie assured members that his administration will be selfless in the discharge of their duties, assuring them that the new administration will be transparent in managing the affairs of the union, as they also intend to prioritize the welfare of the members.
The chairman further appealed for patience from the people, as this is his first time of serving in this capacity as a chairman. He reminded the traders that as humans, his administration is bound to make mistakes but his doors will remain wide open for consultations aimed at effecting corrections.
Okorie warned members against unwholesome practices that tend to sabotage the collective business interests of members. One of them, he noted, is connivance with foreigners to undermine the traders.
He also frowned at activities of some traders who fake other peoples product by using their trade marks to produce substandard goods. He assured that the union will help any brand owner confiscate the goods of any trader faking his/her product with a fine of N500,000.
Earlier, the outgoing chairman, Mr. Emeka Izuka, thanked members of the union for their support during his tenure and appealed for the same support and cooperation with the new administration.
He said: “I appeal for your continued support for the new administration. I have no doubt that the new administration will take the union to a higher level because the new president has been part of our team.”
Meanwhile, Okorie, after taking over, immediately constituted some committees including committee headed by Chief Uchenna Nwajiobi; as well as Traffic and Security and Task Force.