By Meletus EZE
Food vendors are making brisk businesses in Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds its convention, the TBI Africa reports.
The vendors who erected different stands ranging from bole (plantain) and fish, moi moi, buns and egg rolls, fruits to “Mama put” local restaurants said that they were in ”great” business.
Mrs Hope Oka, bole and smoke fish seller, said that she positioned herself and her wares since Friday morning and had been making huge sales.
Oka, who said she had not gone home since Friday, explained that because some delegates started arriving straight at the venue, she was able to sell her entire plantain in the night.
“I sold some N150 per one while some N200; I made a huge profit of N25, 000 as against my normal N8, 000 per day.
“Early this morning, I rushed to the market to restock my market; God has been so kind to me; thank God for this convention and for our Gov. Nyesom Wike who facilitated the holding of the convention in Port Harcourt.
”Now I’m sure to pay for my children’s school fees comfortably,” she said.
Mrs Felicia Okeh, one of the local restaurant owners, said that the convention had been favourable to her as she was selling her food very well.
”I cook and sell different kinds of foods including pepper soup, garri/amala and soups, rice, beans, fried plantain and the most interesting thing is that the sale is very fast.
”People troop to my stand and I almost ran out of serving plates; I am happy, the business is good, there is a huge profit,” she said.
Okeh, who did not disclose how much profit she was making,attributed her reason to security.
There were other vendors selling gift items, PDP T-Shirts, caps, clothes and many others.
The vendors commended the PDP for holding the convention in Port Harcourt and urged other parties to emulate the PDP.
They said that the economic situation in the country was pushing many people into buying and selling in order to make ends meet which made such huge event a welcomed one.
‘’No matter how little the profit is, it is better than depending on salary which may not even come due to the economic situation.
”I was a company worker before I was laid off; when the company downsized due to poor economy, I started driving a taxi but the Port Harcourt-Aba road, Obigbo axis, destroyed my car.
”Immediately I heard about the convention, l went and loaded donuts, drinks and fruits; within these two days, I am sure of paying school fees at least for two of my children,” Mr Daniel Woke said.
The vendors said that they would be sleeping in the stadium till the end of the convention.
