Trader to sue Council for aggravated theft

A trader in Konye, Meme Division of the Southwest Region, whose name The Post got only as Winni is reportedly considering legal action against the Council following a Municipal Order sanctioning the relocation of the Ngolo Bolo market.

The Post gathered that, Winni is also threatening to sue the Council for aggravated theft of eight and a half bags of ‘water-fufu’ and 27 bunches of plantain.

Her goods are reported to have been confiscated by the Council during an operation to induce traders to move over to a new market location assigned by the Council. The goods are said to have been auctioned and the money put in the Council’s treasury.

Winni is reported to be part of a group of traders resisting the decision of the Mayor, George Musima, to change the location of the market to the central town.

Besides the looming court action, a cross section of the Ngolo Bolo population have interpreted the move by the current Mayor as a way to retard development in the village of his predecessor. Ngolo Bolo, a major street in Konye town, is the village of the former Mayor, Chief Zacheus Awudu.

Meantime, preliminary investigations are said to be underway following a complaint the trader lodged at the Meme Legal Department.

Mayor Survives Death Prophecy In another twist, the Mayor is alive, despite reported promises of judgmental death prophesied on him by residents of Ngolo Bolo for felling a popular tree in the former market area. The tree, popularly known as "Banga School”, was used by the petty traders to display their items.

Mayor Musima reportedly defiled the threats of judgmental death on his person and ordered the felling of the tree.

A few days later, the Ngolo Bolo indigenes are said to have replanted another tree of the same specie.

In reaction, the Mayor is said to have rubbed his palms with anointing oil and uprooted the new tree.

After the incident, the angry villagers of Ngolo Bolo reportedly went jubilating following the visit of Meme Senior Divisional Officer, David Koulbout Aman, to chair a Council session. The villagers thought the administrator had come to warn the Mayor for attempting to relocate the market.

Approached for comment, the Communication Officer of the Konye Council, Eddy Bokuba, admitted the pockets of resistance concerning the relocation of the Ngolo Bolo Market. Bukoba explained that the said woman visited the council recently but did not disclose her intention.

Bokuba said the Mayor had explained, during a recent meeting with all Council workers that, the municipal order to relocate the market falls in line with moves to develop the municipality.

He quoted his boss as stating that he cannot be accused of hindering development in the village of his predecessor, whereas he has already sourced for over FCFA 85 million for the construction of a bridge and other amenities in the area.

According to one of the Councillors of Konye, Ngolo Bolo cannot complain, given that of the 36 villages that make up the municipality, it has six Council workers and three Councillors.

By press time, attempts to get the Mayor of Konye, George Musima Lobe,to comment on the situation were unsuccessful.