By Eric Ugbor

THE “Isi Gate”main market in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, established during the colonial era, has returned to business. It  was  a source of concern to successive administrations as its presence posed ugly sight that made the capital look like a slum.

•Business returning to the colonial market

The market had remained until the administration of Chief Theodore Orji, an indigene of Ibeku, who in 2013, showed the political will despite public outcry especially by traders against the re-location of the market to the multi-billion naira modern market at Ubani- Ibeku in the outskirts of Umuahia.

The ultra modern Ubani market with over 500 lock-up shops was constructed with all the necessary facilities and features that could match any market worldwide.

However, it was difficult for the government to successfully push the traders out of the Isi-Gate market as many of the traders complained that the Ubani market was outside the city centre and would not attract massive patronage since it was located outside Umuahia.

But, the determined Orji government set up a committee headed by his in-law, Chief Ebenezar Offor, who ensured that the decision of the government was implemented and the traders re-located.

The Offor committee formally closed the Isi-Gate Market on October 24, 2013 and on the 28th of same month, the state government demolished the Isi-Gate Market and forced traders into their new location.

It was a herculean task for the state government as many traders resorted to converting all available shops and spaces around the market into mini markets.

Many of the traders complained then that they could not afford the exorbitant rent charged for the new shops while others maintained that the new market was too far from Umuahia.

Many of the roads/ streets around the Isi-Gate Market including Umuahia, Lagos, Warri, Calabar, Owerri, Abiriba, Niger and Eket among others, experienced a beehive of trading activities against the decision of the state government.

Government’s task force which went about demolishing what it termed illegal structures and shops along such streets, also moved around, confiscating goods and wares of “stubborn” traders who refused to heed the government’s directive.

Due to the stringent measures at that time, the capital city was decongested, as it wore a new look, with the Chairman of the market re-location committee, Chief Offor expressing happiness amid praises to “Governor Orji for finally breaking the jinx,” which previous administrations could not, by failing to remove the market from the city centre.

From 2013 when the market was re-located, many of the shops at the new Ubani Modern market remained under locks and keys, just as reptiles and rodents took over the market which was overgrown with grasses, due to lack of patronage.

This was even as security cordons were erected around the Isi-Gate market to ward off recalcitrant traders, who might want to come back to the old place.

The present administration in the state under Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu continued with the policy of his successor until barely    three years of his first tenure in office when the situation changed, as trading and other commercial activities have resumed at Isi-Gate and all the adjoining roads to the area.

The roads where trading activities have returned are Umu-wire, Owerri, Warri, Abiriba, Niger, Eket, Crowther, Lagos, Club Road and Okpara Square among others. The area has gone back  to its former status as a slum as uncleared waste bins  littered the whole area, for days and weeks without end.

Many of the traders who initially relocated to the new Ubani market and complaining of lack of patronage have locked up their shops at Ubani and returned to Isi-Gate where shops and spaces are now being competed for by the traders.

What changed the government policy?

When South-East Voice visited the market, the traders expressed joy that the government suddenly soft-pedalled on their decision.

It was reliably gathered that the Majority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly and member representing Umuahia Central Constituency, Chinedum Orji, allegedly upturned the policies of his father and immediate past governor, Senator Orji and the incumbent, Dr. Ikpeazu directed the traders to go back to their former locations.

According to the traders, the legislator whose constituency the Isi-Gate falls into, is said to have taken the decision to help the traders, many of whom he said were passing through hard times as a result of the present economic situation in the country.

But a political analyst in the state, Mr. James Nwankwo described the return of the Isi-Gate market as a decision made to enhance the political ambition of the legislator and that of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP -led government in the state.

“The whole situation tells you the type of government we run in the state, a decision that was taken by an executive governor with legal backing was upturned in a minute by a legislator, then who is in charge of the state?

“You can see that since the legislator reverted this government’s law and nobody has said anything and the traders who ab-initio left for the new market, are back to Isi-Gate and the people’s resources used to build the new market have been wasted as the new market is almost abandoned,”  Nwankwo, a lawyer, said.