Market women and other traders in the state have expressed joy and satisfaction with Governor Udom Emmanuel for making life more meaningful for them in their trade.
During a visit by the Special Assistants to the Governor on Media, Mr. Essien Ndueso, and that of Grassroots’ Re-Orientation Mr. Joseph Okon, the traders rejoiced over Governor Emmanuel’s policy of making every Thursday of the week ticket-free, describing the day as Udom’s Bonanza Day.
Led by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Market and Trade, Mr. Idorenyin Raphael, the excited traders recalled how Governor Emmanuel had assured them of their welfare during the solidarity rally in his honour and his fulfillment of the interest-free loan scheme for them.
They said they had prayed for a Governor that will have the interest of the traders at heart and that Governor Emmanuel presented himself as that perfect choice.
According to Madam Ekaette Jonah, a household utensil trader, “I thank God for the love that the Governor and his wife have shown to the market women. The market women are happy about the governor’s loan programme. The governor is a promise keeper, he has fulfilled all the promises he made to us during his election campaign. I’m one of the many beneficiaries of the governor’s interest free loan for market women. May God bless and keep our governor and his wife.”
In the words of another trader, Obonganwan Maria Eshiet, “The Governor has done very well with market women. I thank the wife of the Governor for empowering over 700 women. This has helped the women to boost their businesses. I pray that God should continue to bless them. We have reaped from the support we gave to him during campaign. He promised to appoint a Special Assistant on Market Matters and give interest free loan to traders; he has fulfilled these within one year. For these the governor has done for the women, 2019 will be carry go for Udom Emmanuel.”
Lady Emem Godslead, on her part, said “I coordinate all women in the market. I collected loan for the women and they are so happy. The women are saying come rain or sun in 2019 they stand with Governor Udom Emmanuel. May God bless the governor’s wife who has initiated good programmes for women to enjoy. The governor had promised to donate a bus to traders in the state which he has done it. For Ime Emmanuel, she, “thank our Governor for fulfilling all the promises he made to traders. He has given us a free ticket day. This has made all market women happy every Thursday. All these goodies the governor has given to traders have brought happiness and peace to the market. The women are very happy and bright. The women will stand by Governor Udom Emmanuel in his second term.”
An iconic figure in the market, who would not be left out, Obong Christopher Usoro, the Chairman of Markets in Akwa Ibom State, said “I thank the governor so much. All what we asked him, he has done it all. We have never felt this way before, and government has never been so good to traders. May God bless and keep our Governor. There is no problem for Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2019, we are ready to bring out our money and support him because we are convinced that he will do more for us when he returns as Governor till 2013.”
The same sentiment was shared by Uwem Umoh, Chairman of Market Management Committee, Uyo Local Government, “I thank God for giving us a Governor like Udom Emmanuel. Though we had governors from 1999, we never had this kind of Governor. Udom has created a lasting impact by moving his government to the grassroots people by remembering the traders. He has done it openly, all the traders in the various markets have benefited from this government. I know that before the end of his first four years, all traders in Akpan Andem market will become millionaires.”
Edidiong Effiong, the President of Akpan Andem Market Phase ll, summarized the appreciations by saying “I thank the Governor so much for his assistants. He has made the market enjoyable, and traders are very happy. Now there is so much peace in the market, no more fighting. We are also enjoying the governor’s bonanza (ticket free day). God will continue to bless our governor and open a way for him to have more money so that he will continue to support traders. Some of us that were practically dead have been brought back to live because of the governor’s interest free loans to traders.”
Responding, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media Mr. Essien Ndueso, commended the traders for appreciating Governor Emmanuel’s efforts and assured them that the Governor will continue to place premium on the welfare of traders as off-takers of the by-products in the various emerging industries in the state.
Mr. Ndueso assured them of the “Governor commitment to diversifying the economy through investments in agriculture and industrialization in order to ensure availability of food and other commodities for Akwa Ibom people at affordable rates.”
The Special Assistant Trade and Market Matters Mr. Raphael said more than 10,000 traders are benefiting from the current loan scheme, ranging from 250,000 to 500,000 each
That is what it should be.