Ochanja market chairman continues developmental infrastructure despite threats to quit

By Uzo Ugwunze

The Caretaker Chairman of Ochanja Central Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, Chief Bonaventure Muo has continued in his road construction projects in the market despite petitions and threats by rivals and godfathers.

Inspecting the construction work at Ochanja market’s second gate road, the chairman, who was flanked by his secretary, Mr Maduka Obinna and Personal Assistant, Mr Chukwudi Okafor, reiterated that he would not be deterred by the antics of the opposition and god-fathers whom he claimed to had kept the market in bondage.

” My problem with them started when I was appointed the market chairman by the Anambra State Government, through the former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Obinna Ngonadi, who is now the Commissioner for Industry”.

“Their grievance is because I vowed to work honestly by the State government /market rules and regulations.

” Under the guideline, there should be one chairman and secretary in a line in the market and when the government requested several lines and shops, it was that I discovered that in a particular line there were three chairmen and three secretaries but I objected that it should be just one chairman and one secretary in a line.

“Again, there are about 720 shops in the market but they lied that there are 245 shops. So in a bid to come out clean, by telling the Government the truth, they started attacking me, writing frivolous petitions saying that the 200 shops I have in the market were not accounted for and that I never paid levies like stallage fees for them.

“The one that claims ownership of the market, (god-father), gave me two weeks’ ultimatum to vacate the office in my interest claiming that he was his prerogative to install any chairman in the market.

“Here, I belong to the group called ‘Movement for Good Governance, and we are only interested in the progress of the market. and that is why I don’t bother about their frivolous and laughable petitions and threats so long I am doing the wishes and aspirations of the majority of the traders,” he stated.

On the construction of the road with drainage systems on both sides, at the second gate, he said that traders were happy and surprised as such a good gigantic project has not been done in the market before, especially when traders were not tasked financially for about #4.5million the project may gulp.

Contributing, the secretary, Hon. Maduka Obinna said that it was the little money they generate from the market coupled with the chairman’s financial assistance that is doing the road project.

“Traders have continued to praise us and even asked us to continue in our good work as they have never seen this before. No leadership has done what we did in four months of our stay,” he hinted.

Also reacting, Hon. Chukwudi Okafor said the chairman donated 50 bags of cement, others donated 30, 20, and 10, and some donated cash, depending on their capability because they are happy with what the chairman is doing. They have never seen such before and want to assist,” he said.