Stakeholders Urge Unity In Orba International Market

Stakeholders of Orie Orba International Market have called for unity of purpose among the traders to ensure progress in the World Bank/ UNDP assisted market.

The stakeholders spoke during a meeting at the Foodstuffs Traders Association's office in the market.

Speaker after speaker noted during the meeting noted the need for unity, reminding all "that there is power in unity," quoting verses in the Book of Genesis to demonstrate the power of unity.

"Orba market suffers from lack of unity.

But we thank God that one or two persons prayed and worked for the unity we are enjoying today.

"There is no need for division because divided we fall, united we stand.

"Now that we have this unity, if we work cooperatively, there is no limit to our progress. The problem of Nigeria is lack of common language, hence lack of unity." 

In his comment, Magistrate Onah stressed the need to hold Orba Market dear to us.

 Here is the only place where people can stay at home all their lives and become millionaires because of the world class Orba Market. So, we must be vigilant so that we don't lose our market.

"We must take our bearing from what happened to Ogige Nsukka Market. Many died as a result of the destruction of Ogige. So, we must ensure that for whatever reasons, Orba Market must not be destroyed. 

"A company has been running Orba International Market for 25 years but there is not a single Kobo coming to Orba as dividend...

"We have nothing more than this Orba Market. So, we must hold it firmly and ensure that this unity we enjoy now is sustained.

"The survival of Orba market is in our hands. Forget government, forget politics: the survival of Orba market lies in the hands of Orba Market stakeholders."

Explaining further, Onah noted that, "The idea of this union is to form an encompassing union of traders and artisans to benefit from the blessings that Orba market has become to traders. The idea is to work as a group to take problems that might arise in Orba market jointly 

"If this idea is carried, we will start by forming a steering committee to develop a template for the associations to merge as a big union," he added.

Other contributors urged traditional rulers in the area to support moves to secure Orba market for the general good.

"This is a good initiative but people must be prepared to stand their ground if we hope to achieve results, they further noted