PPA returns as Traders shut down Ariaria market for Udensi, Mascot’s campaign train

In a rare display of solidarity, traders in Ariaria International Market, Aba in Abia State locked their shops last weekend and trooped out to welcome the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA)

guber hopeful, Sir Chikwe Udensi and Aba North/South House of Representatives candidate, Mr. Mascot Uzor Kalu’s campaign train.

There was a mild drama at the entrance gate of the market when the AMATA boys who were said to be under instruction from the state government not to allow opposition parties enter the market for campaign hurriedly locked the entrance gate to deny entourage access

The disenchanted traders, who were yearning for change, however, forcefully broke the padlock to welcome Udensi and Mascot with all manners of solidarity songs hailing their courage.

They laid bare before Udensi the many levies and daily tickets they are forced to pay, saying despite all the multiple taxation, the government has abandoned their business environment to ruin.

The traders hailed Udensi’s courage for forcing his way through into the market despite the directives from the present administration to its executives not to allow any opposition political party access to the market for campaign, saying they have not only adopted him, but will vote en masse for both of them in the forth coming elections.

After listening to the complaints of the traders, who said they have adopted him as the next governor, Udensi immediately ordered the rehabilitation of Powerline Road which is in a very deplorable state and promised to abolish all irrelevant taxes, levies and emblems when elected. What is happening in Abia State is heartbreaking, why would traders whose goods do not worth up to N1,000 be subjected to all manners of taxes and levies without government creating the enabling environment first?

“The present government is no doubt the people’s problem. Take away the government and the people will rejoice. Under my watch as the Abia State governor, I will ensure that Aba is returned to its past glory not only as the commercial nerve centre of the Igbo man, but that of the entire nation and Africa.

Udensi said he had ordered the reconstruction of some roads in Aba because of the urgent need to do so to reduce the sufferings of the traders before the raining season starts, maintaining that he does not need to wait to become governor to commence road construction and rehabilitation.

He also promised to engage construction companies such as Julius Berger to rebuild Aba roads, saying he will relocate the Governor’s Office to Aba for the first two years of his administration as he will declare Aba a disaster area.

The excited traders showered Udensi with gifts even as they hailed him the ‘action governor’ in waiting. They promised him and Mascot bloc votes, saying their courage to visit them shows that good thing is about to happen in Abia State.

Mascot also promised the traders’ better days as their representative, saying besides the covenant he has with Aba North/South people, he will use his office and power to ensure that there will be federal presence in Aba; the feat those representing them now have not achieved.