At
what point in the history of a nation do people begin to enjoy the benefits of
a good government? And why are almost all arms of government always aloof
from it's people? Political power is derived from the people and without their
mandate, power on its own is of no effect. Whenever people go out on election
days to cast their votes, what they are saying in essence is “we believe in the
leaders ability to direct and fulfill all electoral promises. Whenever promises
are not kept, people usually feel cheated, disappointed and ignored. For
several years now, our people have felt this way, and have even lost hope that
someday a people centered government will administer the affairs of the land.
Our women in Ika land have not been fairly treated by the Delta State and the
two local councils. While statistics have it that women are in the majority,
many of them have been short changed in the scheme of things. Ika women are
very valuable and priceless beyond estimation and important to the development
and growth of our community and indeed, any community. In recognition of their
importance to society, several governments in Nigeria and even more recently,
the Edo and Ekiti States governments have put programmes in place for the
continuous financial empowerment of women. Ika women deserve no less a reward
for all the roles they are playing alongside their male counter parts in
ensuring that households are well catered for.
From
Baleke, CTC, to the garage market, wherever you go, our women are actively
involved in serious economic and commercial activities. How well the local
councils administer the environment where these women carry on their business
leaves very much to be desired. The market place is one big busy place where
people at the helm of affairs in government do not pay attention to. A market
can be described as a public place where people buy and sell goods and
services, and a place where mostly women sell and people buy commodities at the
best price obtainable. A visitor to any of these markets does not have to
look too far to see that women are in the majority and indeed anywhere there is
a market. Just imagine for a moment visiting a market to make a purchase, what
greets you at the entrance is a heap of refuse or let us assume the possibility
of feeling like going to the toilet or passing urine; the best alternative
available is either to take a bike home or do it anywhere possible. This
typifies what our markets are.
Baleke
market situated in the heart of Orogodo Metropolis has no toilet facility, no
water, no security and plenty of refuse waste abound the market area. CTC
is another place that cannot pass for a market because it is in a terrible
state of disrepair. For crying out loud, these market places are where humans
like you and I go each day to do business and a sitting government seems
unconcerned about the well being of the people that looks up to it for proper
direction and guidance. One begins to wonder what kind of democracy we are
practicing. Obviously, this is no democracy at all. How much would it have
caused the government to put these simple, yet very important facilities in
place for use by the people. Many of the women our correspondents spoke to are
quite elderly. If it's feasible to establish a local government secretariat
with a toilet facility, security, and water, why do the people in government
think it is not proper to set up our markets without proper facilities and
maintenance. Where does the government expect the market women and those who
patronize them to answer to the call of nature. These are primary expectation
from women who toil day and night to contribute to community developments.
The
refuse in Baleke market remains uncleared and when it is collected, it is
superficially done with the caterpillar removing some parts of the whole
refuse. If the interest of the people is very paramount to the powers that be,
a thorough job would been done by ensuring the complete removal of all refuse
at the entrance of the market. The continuous presence of refuse in the market
has a relation to the amount of sales, since no one will want to do business in
a filthy and disease infested environment. And this is the reality that many
women must contend with each day to survive.
When
we got to CTC market, we were seized with shock and disbelief at what we saw.
The market is in a wonky state and almost all the corrugated roofing sheets
have become tattered with holes in them. We were shown a heap of abandoned or
forgotten refuse covered with weeds that have turned into a “hilly bush”.
Refuse in this market is collected once in a “blue moon”, and when they do, it
is not completely removed. What could be more properly done than to remove
completely refuse found at the dump site. The councils only replicates what is
done in other places by removing some waste and leaving the rest for God
knows when. The toilet that is available for use is another disgusting sight
where any body who cares, to use the pit latrine must hold his or her nose away
from the stench oozing out from the refuse dump and must also be prepared
to contend with coachroaches, reptiles and other elements for the ownership of
the place. We also saw a disused toilet covered with tick weed. Getting
close to it was a arduous task as we were not able to wade through the bush as
we were informed that the only entrance to the toilet have been allegedly sold
and converted to a shop. Credible governments do not use state craft against
it's people, rather render proper stewardship to those who they represent and
fulfill all promises ad infinitum. When people begin to beg the government that
was voted for, to keep simple or prmary electoral promises, it becomes a
misnomer or almost incomprehensible.
The
whole essence of having a government is to meet the needs of its citizens.
Whenever issues that bothers on the well being of its people are raised,
political undertones shouldn't be read to it. As long as human's exist, needs
must be met. But it leaves very much to be desired if government must be
reminded of its fundamental duties. Government officials must sit up and be
alive to their roles and responsibilities. Our mothers, sisters and a few of
the men in the market place cannot continue to do business in an environment
detrimental to their health and finances. This is the fundamental truth that
must be sank into the hearts, of our local council representatives.
We
interviewed a cross section of the market women who frowned at governments
unfeeling, unkind, and aloof attitudes towards them. They all spoke candidly
and this is what they have to say; Sunday Umeh said; “I am eagerly and
anxiously hoping to see a better society where people in government will listen
to the people. Personally I am not too pleased with the way the council is
handing the issue of refuse. They don't come regularly, and when they
come it is only to remove some and leave the rest. The bins are too small for
the volume of waste generated here”.
Rita
Aliagwu, an old woman said; “I have been here since I was a little child.
.When next the refuse collectors are coming, ask them to bring shovel and
rake to remove the ones around the borehole. The Caterpillar alone cannot
remove all the refuse without human assistance. We do not have a place to
defecate, there is no water. The previous toilet we had was destroyed by fire
and since this new one was built, it has not been put to use. It is really
shameful that we have a market without a place of convenience. Mrs. Juliana
Kosonyeme said: “when the refuse vehicle comes around on some sanitation days,
they will only take a little in front and leave the rest. Every where is
smelly. Its not healthy for us here. They should open the toilet. We need
toilet. Nicholas Etumido said: “When the market is messy, people wont want to
come to a smelly place.
There is no water. Tell the government to remove
this pollution. The water here was dug by Doris Ugboh. I really feel for these
women. I wonder where they pass waste. I beg government to give the women a
better business environment. Mrs. Rosaline Okoh said: “When this market
was built, it was a beautiful sight to behold. With the passing of time,
things have really gotten worse. Now, there is no security. Do you know the
market is not secured? Government should please give us security. We need
toilet too. Imagine us sitting here from morning till evening without toilet.
It's unfortunate. But this is the truth. And the refuse is not regularly
collected. They should be up and doing”
Mrs.
Victoria Asaboh said: “Government should ask all the people selling along the
road to come into the market. Why must some people be selling along Akpanyi
Street where there is no market? They should stop people from selling along the
road because it's risky. Here, we need a toilet. Imagine what a pregnant woman
who is under pressure will go through before passing urine or defecating?
It's very unfair on the part of our governments. We also want them to cement
the floor of the market and make the market conducive for us and our customers.
Edith
Ikechukwu said: “We need toilet, water and a good environment. Refuse is
driving customers away. When it rains, the market is always flooded. The smell
here is too much”. Rosaline Odiah said; “There is no store here. At the end of
the day, we usually carry our commodities home. We expect a compassionate
government to provide these elementary provisions like water and good stalls.
Tell them we are under the threat of erosion”. Juliet Ojogun said: “There used
to be a meat market here, but now all the meat sellers have left because of the
stench. The government is very unkind. What you see here is a breeding ground
for diseases. Is the government not supposed to clean the environment? They are
not working at all here. The market is in a mess and the market masters just
comes and walks around. We expect him to go and report to his bosses in the
council about the state of the market. We only hope they will read our
complaints and act on it”. Mrs. Faith Ebigo said: “I have spent 32years in this
market. On Orie market days when we should be selling a lot, it is empty
because there is a parallel market at Akpanyi, Street. It is a Street and not a
market. Government should ask everybody to come in here so as to increase commercial
activities. Our market smells. If an individual has stomach problem, what would
you expect. The people in the council have their own toilets, why cant they
give as a toilet. We are humans too. We expect them to have a human face.
They should show consideration to us. We are mothers and responsible citizens
of Ika nation. They should also remember to repair the gate to make the market
secure. They should remove completely all these filth and diseases around us”.
Mrs. Rose Ebonka said: “Refuse is too much around us and this drives customers
away. Pregnant and old women are here selling among us. Where do they answer
the call of nature? Our market master should have a befitting office. No
security. Incase you forget something here, you must quickly rush back so that
nobody will steal it. We are at the mercy of burglars. Please beg them to clear
refuse regularly.
Our
leaders in the two councils must key into president Goodluck Jonathan's 35%
affirmation for women in Nigeria as a great step towards womens rights,
liberation and empowerment by orchestrating and enforcing policies to
ameliorate their burden. The borehole at Baleke market was said to have been
dug by Doris Ugboh for the market women at the heat of her campaign for 2011
election which she did not win. And since then, she has never visited the
market and the market women, neither has she ever bothered to see to the
maintenance of the borehole. The questions now are; what was her intention in
donating the borehole? Was it is just to deceive them, get their votes and then
abandon them like it now shows? If that was so, who is fooling who? Will it
cost her more than N50, 000 monthly to maintain it? Is it not now obvious that
she has fooled the people? Does that not show how myopic Ika politicians are,
not working for the future? What moral courage and justification will a
politician who has done this to her people have to come and talk to them about
elections again? It will be very, very good for our politicians to know that it
is better to be working for the future rather now, now and their pockets for
which they are known for. As a matter of urgency, the legitimate complaints of
these market women must be addressed to the minutest detail since this land
belongs to all us. Ika people are in dare need of selfless leadership and ones
that fears God and we belive God fearing leaders exist in the two Ika council
areas.
It
was Obafemi Awolowo who said. “The ultimate purpose of a state is to enable its
citizens enjoy the fruits of their labour and live a full and happy life”. In
our desire to build a better society, the very needs of our market women must
not be ignored as employing council resources to give them a better environment
is very crucial to their growth and development. Toilet and water are fundamental
necessities of every day existence which must be speedily provided by the two
local councils. Truly, of more worth is a government that dignifies citizens
than one that ignores them. A stitch in time they say saves nine.
Watch
out next week as we feature the sanitary condition of Ika North east, i.e Ebu
Owa market, garage market, Umunede market , Oyoko market etc.
We
urge communities whose environment is not taken care of by the councils to
reach us.
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