Traders in Delta State, have lamented bitterly as one of the popular markets (Ogbogonogo Market) in the Asaba metropolis was shut down because of the presidential campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday.
It was gathered that the market was shut down based on the directive of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Some traders who spoke to ThePUNCH counted their losses as a result of the visit of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to the state.
The traders described the attitude of the state government towards the citizens’ welfare as insensitive.
One of the traders, Kate Mordi lamented, “Markets were shut down on Tuesday because of the party’s campaign, which is why Okowa did not declare a public holiday for civil servants. The workers are there to work for him, and he closed our only source of income.
“Don’t you know that there are people who go hungry if the market does not open for a day?”
Meanwhile,Atiku, while addressing party supporters at the rally’s venue, the Stephen Keshi Stadium, stated that the team was not in Delta to campaign but to appreciate the state.
Atiku said, “We are not in Delta State to campaign; we are in the state to show our gratitude. Since 1999, Delta has never failed our party; that is why I chose my running mate, Okowa, from here.
“In my policy document, education is well captured, and as far as the federal government is concerned, there will be no ASSU strike again if I am elected president. The APC government has disunited Nigeria, and we are coming to unite the country. Economy and security will be given adequate attention.”
Okowa who is the party’s Vice Presidential candidate appreciated Atiku for choosing him as his running mate despite all odds.
On his part, the National Chairman of PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, received the State Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Nick Otunba, with other defectors to the PDP at the rally.
