EBEN ENASCO REPORTING.
The Chairman, Association of Edo State Practicing Butchers, Comrade Akhere Odijie, Says those calling for his removal as Chairman of the Association, have no serious purpose or value, but characterized with selfish intentions to cause restiveness.
Comrade Odijie noted that, as the State Chairman that was chosen through a consensus agreement after the industrial court decision five years ago, whilst he is presently in his second tenure, it is no doubt, a privilege in a position, he had worked off his Socks to bound members through various innovations in the state’s Abattoirs.
In a statement released and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Benin City, Odijie said his only concern is to continue to work assiduously to encourage members to create opportunities in meat business when necessary.
The Statement reads in Part; “My attention has been drawn to a publication on a bloggers’ website “Infopowerng.com”, claiming that Edo State Butchers are against the present State Chairman Comrade. Akhere Odijie and asking Governor Godwin Obaseki to remove him from office on false and frivolous allegations.
To begin to address the obvious concocted and malicious allegations against me the State Chairman, no executive members of the association was sited in this write up.
A meeting was held today, December 7, 2021, and none of these allegations were brought up in the meeting. Rather, it was a meeting called to discuss preparations for the association end of year party slated for December 15, 2021, and all deliberations went well in that regard.
He disclosed that, he is unaware of the allegations and intentions from a certain Sunny Omokaro, the former Chairman of the association, and one Alhaji Isa to increase “ladder fee” from the N4,000 being presently collected without the knowledge and approval of the leadership of the association and above what is collected in other states.
He also spotted holes in some allegations linking him to all forms of harassment leveled against him by these elements, who he said, claimed, he had been extorting monies at gun point from butchers, while threatening to close down the abattoir of those who failed to pay up, boasting that he had the governor’s backing and is above the law.
The Butchers henchman, said lately, there had been several smear campaigns against him and his twin brother, which he said is expected, but willing to undermine and forge ahead in ensuring that the Governor Godwin Obaseki’s led administration succeeds in his mandate.
While condemning what he described as unrealistic Propaganda, he appealed to all members to continue to be of good behavior, promising to thoroughly looked into it and place sanctions against those responsible for it.
Recall that, some concerned members of the Association of Edo State Butchers on Tuesday appealed to the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to remove the state chairman, Akhere Odigie, who they claimed was not a butcher, but was imposed on them five years ago.
They further alleged that the incompetence of Odigie is costing members millions of naira, to the extent that butchers lose between N80,000 and N120,000 on each cow slaughtered in Benin City on a daily basis.
