Madam Blacky Ogiamen, the President of the Edo State Market Women Association (ESMWA), has slammed the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, referring to him as a liar.
In a statement issued on Thursday at the Ekiosa Market in Benin, Madam Blacky refuted claims that she received ₦200,000,000 from Oshiomhole.
Additionally, she dismissed allegations that she incited individuals to set fire to sections of a market.
Madam Blacky asserted that the former governor contributed ₦100,000,000 to the association for its end-of-year celebration, clarifying that this amount was not intended for her personal benefit.
She further accused Oshiomhole of damaging her esteemed reputation by disseminating untruths about her during the APC’s gubernatorial campaign rally at the market, where he alleged that his administration had provided her with ₦200,000,000 for the benefit of market women.
She said: “In 2013, the governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, being our patron, donated the sum of ₦100,000, 000 to the Edo State Market Women Association during our ends of year party, not Madam Blacky Ogiamen.
“The money was paid into the association’s Zenith Bank account, not into my personal account. The leader of the committee that shared the money was the Late Madam Atiti Awerioba, while the Late Grace Erhabor and Madam Alice Omogui Osague, then leaders of Uhunmwande and Ikpoba-Okha distributed to their members in their areas.
“He (Oshiomhole) came to Ekiosa market and told the traders that he gave Madam Blacky ₦200,000,000 on behalf of the Edo State market women and added that I was the one that sent boys to set fire on the market.
“So, we are here this morning to swear if actually what he said about me is true and if not through, this juju should go after anybody that is lying against me
.
“He wants to tarnish my name because of politics, I did not burn any market nor send am anybody to do so.He never gave me any money on behalf of the association let alone ₦200,000,000. He lied against me”.
Other leaders of the market women associations from Ikpoba/Okha, Esan West, Ovia South-West, and Ovia North-East, who were also in attendance, supported Madam Blacky’s account.
They affirmed that the funds were distributed among all members present at the end-of-year celebration, representing the 18 local government areas of the state.
