Protest: Anambra Traders Decry Leadership Imposition, Intimidation, Urge Soludo To Intervene

By Julie Sylvia. Onitsha

The traders of Ozomagala Building Materials Association, Onitsha on Tuesday, appealed to Governor Charles Soludo to rescue them from the leadership imposition, intimidation and harassment by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Markets, SPAD, Chief Evarist Uba.

The angry traders stormed the Local Government Secretariat with placards inscription, “We say no to imposition of leadership, Modebe shopping plaza is not a public market, SPAD, respect court order, leadership is not by force, among others.

The protest which was led by the former elected and current Chairmen, Chiefs Ferdinand Ifezue and Obiora Okoro respectively, following the arrest of the market leaders by the state security agents and intimidation, a development they described as unacceptable.

Voicing out their grievances, the elected Chairman of the market Chief Obiora Okoro lamented that their market is not registered under public market but private and questioned the reason for SPAD to impose caretaker committee on them while the tenure of their elected executives has not elapsed.

He also alleged that SPAD re-registered their name to ensure it belongs to public market while they are not. According to him, “Our registered business name is Ozomagala Building Materials Association but, SPAD went and re- registered our name as Ozomagana Building Materials Market.

“We are not happy because he registered our name wrongly. He wants to register us under a public Market but Modebe Enterprises who rented us plazas threatened that if we agree, they will eject us. SPAD should obey court order because Modebe Enterprises has instituted legal action against him” He said.

The former Chairman of the association in his complaint said that they have been trading peacefully at Modebe shopping plaza until Special Adviser to Governor on Market, Chief Evarist Uba suddenly imposed care-taker leadership on them.

He also lamented that their greatest annoyance was the imposition of caretaker committee while the tenure of their elected executives have not elapsed, adding that the plaza they occupy is a private plaza and was not registered under public market.

“We explained to the SPAD that we were rented by Modebe Enterprises and we are not under public Market but he said, we should obey whatever he said. But, we did not welcome such development.

“We also complained to Modebe Enterprises who promised to take up the matter. So, we are calling on Soludo to rescue us . He even arrested our leaders with security agents last week” Said Ifezue.

The former chairman further revealed that they have signed Fifty (50) years lease agreement with Modebe Enterprises, saying that Chief Uba should allow them to choose their leaders and stop intimidating them with security agents as well as allowing them to complete the ongoing renovation of their plaza.

Addressing the traders, the Mayor of Onitsha South local government, Chief Emeka Orji lauded the traders for their peaceful protest, reminding them that local government belongs to everybody but not owned by anybody.

Orji who addressed traders through the local government Secretary, Paul Onuachalla Esq. expressed concerned on their plight, saying that they felt with them on their challenges, confirming that Ozomagala is a private plaza and not a public Market.

“SPAD has no power to interfere in private market even if it is public market, still he has no power to interfere into your affair. The only people Constitutionally authorized to regulate parks and Markets is local government.

“I am saying it with every sense of responsibility. If you check Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, if you also look at Anambra state local government administration law 2024, both laws empower local government to regulate parks and Markets”

“In your own case, this plaza you are talking about, I must thank Modebe family for queuing into Urban regeneration agenda of the Governor otherwise, they have choice of allowing the plaza to remain the way it was but they queued into the agenda and that is why we council is giving you support.

“You give the plaza a new face in line with Solution agenda because Mr. Governor is looking for a way to regenerate Onitsha to Urban regeneration” Orji posited.

The Mayor however extended his appreciation to Modebe Enterprises for also allowing the traders to occupy the plaza on lease agreement, assuring them that he has already tabled their complaint to the SPAD and also going to take the matter to the attorney general of the state as well as the conduct of SPAD on Market as regards the particular issue.

“This is pure sabotage on Urban regeneration agenda of Mr. Governor and we will not allow that to happen. So, be rest assured that we are with you. In whichever way, we are with you because this is exactly what Mr. Governor wants. Mr. Governor wants a new Onitsha,” The mayor concluded.

Contacting the SPAD to react on the allegations through telephone call, he replied, saying that he was in a meeting that he could not talk.

A chat message was later sent to him on the same issue to comment but, he did not reply it as at the time of filling this report.