Leader of market women association in Edo State, Madam Blacky Omoregie Ogiamen, has denounced Comrade Lucky Orukpe, President of Traders Welfare Union of Nigeria, who petitioned the security agencies on allegation that she diverted N100million that then Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, handed over to her in 2013 for the welfare of market women.
While reacting to the petition, Madam Blacky denied that Comrade Orukpe is a member of the Edo Market Women Association not only that she said that the money in question was judiciously expended in line with the former governor’s directives.
“This Lucky Orukpe that has just petitioned the security agencies is a rabble rouser who is not even a member of the Edo Market Women Association. He does not exist in our midst. We do not recognise him.
“What he does is to go about the different markets inciting our members on any flimsy excuse. We have taken note of his antics and we have accordingly warned our members not to associate with him on any issue.
“On the N100million he said Comrade Adams Oshiomhole gave us in 2013, yes it is a fact. But he did not add that Comrade Oshiomhole also gave us clothes, wrappers, food stuff etc which we shared to all our members then.
“Some of the beneficiaries of these gift items and money are now deceased. Do we now go to the graveyard to get their testimony?”
Going further, Madam Ogiamen said: “I am one of the founders of this association(Edo Market Women Association) and over the years I have overcome bigger threats and accusations than this step that Orukpe is taking against me. I will surely overcome this one too. I stand on truth.
“I will remind you that Lucky Orukpe was the guy who defrauded a lot of market women during Governor Oshiomhole’s administration on the claim that he was in-charge of allocation of stalls at a newly established market which he called Clara Oshiomhole market supposedly in memory of the late wife of Governor Oshiomhole which the governor denounced.
“Thereafter, Orukpe used the money he so acquired fraudulently to do his wedding that period.”
Attesting to what Madam Ogiamen said, Mrs. Mary Osameda, the leader of the market women in Ikpoba Hill, a suburb of Benin City, the Edo State capital said: “What our mummy(Madam Ogiamen) just told you is the truth. She has always let us benefit from whatever that is made available for us by any source. She is not a dubious person as the petitioner is trying to label her.”
