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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has banned all tribal and ethnic-based traders’ associations operating in Swail and other markets in the state.
Several markets in Yenagoa, the state capital, have been embroiled in intractable conflicts due to vested interests associated with tribal sentiments. Consequently, the State Commissioner of Police has been directed to enforce the order by arresting any person or group of persons who continue to parade themselves as members of such associations at the various markets.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the orders at the weekend after receiving a report from the Swali Market Conflict Resolution Committee during a meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by a large number of traders from the Swali Market, the Deputy Governor warned that the government would decisively take on anybody who violates the ban on ethnic group-based traders’ associations in the state.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who also criticized the State Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Investment for not demonstrating effective leadership, observed that the protracted crisis among the traders in the Swali market was a result of the ministry’s compromise, ineptitude, and failure.
Ewhrudjakpo, however, clarified that traders’ associations would only be allowed to exist in the markets strictly on the basis of the kind of goods or products traders deal in.
“The Honourable Commissioner for Information will make the formal announcement: All tribal traders associations in that market are hereby banned – no Isoko traders association; no Urhobo traders association; no Igbo traders association, and no Ijaw traders association, and others not mentioned here, he declared.
The declaration followed the report of Conflict Resolution Committee headed by Chief Boma Spero-Jack.
