Group appeals for reinstatement of sacked market leaders in Anambra
By Polycarp Ifeanyi
Traders in Onitsha, Anambra State under the aegis of the Anambra Traders’ Welfare Association (ATWA), have appealed to the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to reinstate sacked Market leaders in the State to ensure peace and stability.
The group which comprises importers, industrialists and artisans and other traders after their quarterly meeting held in GRA Onitsha, Anambra State, spoke through their Chairman, Mr. Boniface Ibeamaka, pleading with the Governor to sheath his sword.
Ibeamaka said those who want the Market leaders to be sacked were the ones who do not wish his new administration well.
He alleged that “the cabals are the same people who, it was rumoured, are pestering government officials, seeking to head one Market or the other through the back door.”
He described such action as not only an injustice but an illegality which is capable of destroying the good programme of Prof. Soludo’s administration.
” We are not comfortable with this development in Anambra State Markets. What does someone gain in instigating trouble where there is no trouble ? Leadership is not by force. If people elect you, you lead them not putting confusion and troubles in the Markets.
“This is not character of Governor Soludo we know, rather the handiwork of sycophants and people who want to constitue themselves as cabals in Anambra Markets who have infiltrated into this new government.
” The most annoying aspect of it is that traders in the Markets across the state are enjoying peace because the markets leaders were doing their job exceedingly well.
“Some of us here are importers. We know how each Market leader performs. Some of these Market leaders have gone out of their way to uplift their Market with facilities that will help improve the life of traders.
“The Ogbaru Main Market was prevented from being razed by fire through the equipment and amenities Chief Ndubisi Ochiogu provided in the Market. Right now, he is building ultra modern conveniences in the Market. But most importantly he won his election conducted by ASMATA and supervised by the Ministry of Commerce. How can this type of leader be sacked except they want to create crisis in the market,” he said.
He appealed to Governor Soludo to ignore those he labelled as “cabals who he allegedly said were seeking for political power in the Markets to enrich themselves.
