Senator Adams Oshiomhole.

By Jethro Ibileke 

President of Edo State Market Women Association (ESMWA), Madam Blacky Ogiamen, has denied receiving ₦N200 million from the administration of former governor of the State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole in 2013.

This is even as she denied sending people to set fire to parts of the market.

Madam Blacky who made the denial on Thursday at the Ekiosa Market in Benin, claimed that the former governor donated the sum of ₦100,000,000 to the association during its end-of-year ceremony, and not for her personal use.

She accused Oshiomhole of tarnishing her high reputation through the spreading of falsehood against her during APC’s governorship campaign rally at the market, where he (Oshiomhole) claimed that his administration gave her ₦200,000,000, for 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 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 to 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”.

Leaders of market women associations in Ikpoba/Okha, Esan West, Ovia South-West and Ovia North-East, who were also present, corroborated Madam Blacky’s story.

They confirmed that the money was shared among all members who attended the end-of-year party from the 18 local government areas of the state.