Hon. Nomeh's Fabrications Under Scrutiny: A Demand for Transparency and Accountability

Hon. Moses Ogodoali Nomeh's recent press statements, in which he dismisses the Ahia Ofuu market traders' protests as "ignorant" and claims to be acting in their best interests, are a transparent attempt to deflect from his own questionable actions. His assertion that he is "actively advocating for the welfare of traders" rings hollow in the face of his demand for a ₦350,000 levy from women who financed their own shop construction.

His claim that the traders "misconstrued" his efforts is a disingenuous attempt to shift blame. The traders' grievances are clear: they are being asked to pay an exorbitant sum for shops they built themselves, in a market where the LGA has consistently failed to provide basic infrastructure.

Furthermore, his allegation of ₦22 million embezzlement against market chairman Mr. Nwankwo Ikechukwu raises serious questions. Hon. Nomeh must be compelled to provide concrete evidence to substantiate this claim. Where did this ₦22 million originate? Were these funds allocations from the federation account? Given that the market was built through the ₦150,000 contributions from the market women themselves, the source of such a substantial sum remains a mystery.

It is imperative that Hon. Nomeh cease his pursuit of baseless accusations and instead focus on addressing the legitimate concerns of the market traders. His demand for 22 shops through his supervisor for finance, Mr. Nwankwo Godswill Ikechukwu, and his subsequent accusations of embezzlement when denied, suggest a personal vendetta rather than a genuine concern for public funds.

We demand that Hon. Nomeh:

•  Provide certifiable evidence of the source of the alleged ₦22 million.
•  Publicly account for the LGA's failure to provide essential infrastructure to the market and the Umuoghara community.
•  Offer an unreserved apology to Mr. Nwankwo Ikechukwu and the Ahia Ofuu market traders for his false accusations and attempts to destabilize the market.

Hon. Nomeh's actions undermine the trust between local government and the community it serves. He must be held accountable for his words and actions, and the truth must prevail. The people of Ahia Ofuu market deserve transparency, accountability, and justice.