From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
Traders in Aba, Abia State, last weekend, engaged in prayers asking God to assist the administration of Gov Alex Otti, succeed in its efforts to reposition the State towards socio-economic growth and development, in line with the dream of its founding fathers.
They used the occasion to pledge their support by ensuring that their members paid approved taxes appropriately and promptly, to the state revenue authorities, so as to boost government’s funding of infrastructural projects, especially within the market areas.
General Chairman of Aba Markets Traders Association (AMTA), Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo, at the prayer session, again thanked the Governor, for the commencement of construction work on many abandoned roads in the commercial city, including Cemetery Road, which transverses through Eziukwu Road/Omuma/Osusu, onto Okigwe Road. This particular artery was abandoned since the State’s creation 32 years ago.
Udeigbo said it was a thing of joy that within two months in office, Otti had shown cause that he came prepared, to lift Abia and its people to greater developmental heights: “So, we can only reciprocate the goodwill by ensuring that all shop owners pay the approved consolidated taxes of N21,000 each, to enable government have funds to sponsor the projects and achieve early realization.
“This is the little we can do to appreciate government’s gesture, to help boost it’s internal revenue base. We can all see that Cemetery Road is beginning to become accessible. Finance houses and other ancillary business organizations, that ran away due to impassable road, have started coming back.”
General Overseer of the Soul Saviours Ministry, New Umuahia Road, Aba, Apostle Sam Okwuchi, who led the prayer session said trading was an honourable venture if those engaged in it did so, with the fear of God.
With topical bible quotations on the theme: “I will heal your land,” (2 Chronicles 7.14), Okwuchi reminded those visiting shrines and doing business with spiritual powers outside that of God Almighty, that they would suffer.
He also told those holding their fellow human beings and colleagues in bondage in order to enrich themselves and their immediate families, that God had come to sanitise Abia and its establishments: “Those coming into the markets to trade at midnight, after visiting shrines where they acquire witchcraft, God is seeing you and has given me a word for you.
“It is either you repent, or be prepared to perish as a new order has come to bear in this land. God said to King Solomon, …if my people, who are called by my name, turn away from their sins and seek my face, I will hear from heaven and heal their land.
“In Genesis, God said let there be light and there was light on earth. Today, God’s light has come to Abia and you have done well in seeking God first, to put your markets back into His realm of light. It shall be well with you. Anyone gathering against the success of Gov Alex Otti’s administration, will fail.”
The traders cheered and concurred with ‘Amen’, as they dispersed in joy with smiles of fulfilment written on their faces.