Market Women’s President Denies Receiving N200 Million from Former Governor

As political parties intensify campaigns ahead of the next week’s election in Edo State, the President of the State Market Women Association, ESMWA, Madam Blacky Ogiamen, has denied receiving N200 million from the administration of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole in 2013. The allegations have sparked a war of words between Ogiamen and Oshiomhole, with the former governor accusing the market women’s president of spreading falsehood.

Ogiamen, speaking at a protest by the market women, denied receiving the sum of N200 million from Oshiomhole’s administration and also denied any involvement in the burning of a section of the market. She accused Oshiomhole of tarnishing her image and reputation by spreading falsehood against her.

According to Ogiamen, Oshiomhole had donated N100 million to the association during its end-of-year ceremony in 2013, which was promptly and fairly shared amongst members who attended the ceremony. She wondered why Oshiomhole was hell-bent on tarnishing her image because of politics.

Ogiamen also alleged that Oshiomhole had told some people, including Ekiosa market women, that his administration gave her N200 million for the market women. She denied receiving any money from Oshiomhole’s administration and accused him of lying against her.

Other market women who collaborated Ogiamen’s narrations include market leaders in Ikpoba-Okha, Esan West, Ovia South-West and Ovia North-East. They refuted the allegations against the market women’s president and accused Oshiomhole of spreading falsehood.

The dispute has sparked tension in the state, with many market women calling for Oshiomhole to apologize for his actions. The situation is expected to continue to unfold in the coming days as the election approaches.

Key Quotes:

• "In 2013, the governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, being our patron donated the sum of one hundred million Naira to the Edo State Market Women Association, not Madam Blacky Ogiamen, during our ends of year party that year." – Ogiamen
• "He wants to tarnish my name because of politics, I did not burn any market nor send anybody to do so. He never gave me any money on behalf of the association let alone two hundred million Naira. He lied against me." – Ogiamen
• "I was the deputy leader of the Ikpoba-Okha market women association but now I am the leader." – Madam Alice Agbonlahor