Crisis mars Mgbuka Amazu election as non indigene barred from contesting Chairmanship
By Polycarp Ifeanyi.
Crisis erupted during the general election of Old Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association popularly known as Mgbuka Amazu in Okpoko, Ogbaru LGA, Anambra State when indigenous traders in the Market refused non indigenes to contest Chairmanship position.
The crises which broke out shortly after accreditation led to the cancellation of the election by the president general of Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMTA), Chief Ikechukwu Ekwegbalu and ordered the electoral Committee Chairman, Mr. Romanus Omeje to be the interim Chairman of the Market until the crisis is resolved.
One of the Chairmanship contestants from Enugu State, Mr. Emeka Egwuonwu pointed out that leaders in the Market who are from Anambra State were not performing well and that was why he wants to contest Chairmanship but he was not allowed.
” We are 4 Chairmanship contestants who secured forms for the election; 2 persons are Anambra indigenes, while the other 2 persons are non indigenes. We were surprised to hear that we would no longer contest at the eve of the election because we are not indigenes of Anambra State”
Also, Mr. Ikechukwu Onuigbo from Enugu State and former Chairman of the Market explained that the issue of indigenes and non indigenes never arrived in the election of the Market.
” I was the Chairman of the Market from 2008 to 2012 and if non Indigenes would not contest for Chairmanship position, I would not have been the Chairman of the Market. This development is pure orchestrated to intimidated non indigenes, ” he stated.
Meanwhile, the immediate past Chairman of the Market and an indigine of Anambra State, Nze Cyprain Ezechukwu testified that the exclusion of non indigenes from contesting for the Chairmanship position in the market was not specified in the constitution of the Market.
Nze Ezechukwu who is another candidate for the Chairmanship position also disclosed that the Market was built by traders themselves, revealing that the decision of not allowing non Indigenes to contest for the Chairmanship position was taken by the State Government.
Lending her voice, Hon. Ginika Nwa Paul from Imo state and former Chairman of the Market hinted that the idea of not allowing non indigenes to contest for Chairmanship position in the Market was conceived from one man from Arondizogu, called High Tension who led timbers Market Bridge Head, Onitsha.
” When Peter Obi was the Governor of Anambra State, he made policy statement that non indigines would no longer head Markets in Anambra state. The statement made me not to go for a second tenure. I will advise as a person that, let Anambra indigines and non indigines bring one candidates each to contest for the Chairmanship position so that whoever wins, let others support”
Reacting, the president general of non indigines in the Market under the aegis of 5 Alive forum, Mr. Anthony Ifeanyichukwu Igwe from Ebonyi State disclosed that traders of the Market contributed money and built the Market in the year 1985 and backed it with Constitution which he said was specified that any member of the Market is eligible to vote and be voted provided the person has attained 10 years of age.
Similarly, Kama Chukwubuike Cletus from Enugu State and an Electronics dealer stated that he was on ground to observe the election and that Anambra State government was not aware of such obnoxious order.
” Some people from ASMTA and Commissioner of trade and commerce office formed as a team to monopolize the State Market leadership even beyond the knowledge of the Governor”
He appealed to the Anambra State Governor to intervene in the matter and remove Monopoly of leadership in the Markets, warning that if it continues, might destroy Igbo unity.
Also, the interim Chairman of the Market, Mr Romanus Omeje testified that Anambra indigenes refused non indigenes traders to contest for the Chairmanship position which according to him never existed in their Market before.
He however noted that the impasse led to the cancellation of the election and his appointment as the interim Chairman of the Market. He promised to restore peace among the aggrieved parties in the market.
