Restore sacked leaders whose tenures are still running, Onitsha traders beg Soludo
Governor Chukwuma Soludo has again received a pat on the back from the traders for the removal of Dr. Obinna Ngonadi as the Commissioner in charge of Markets in Anambra State.
The latest commendation came from some traders in Ose Okwodu Market for displaying rare quality of hearing from the people who elected him.
The ViceChairman, Caretaker Committee and zonal Chairman of Zone 4, Ose Okwodu Market, Okey Chukwuemeka, said they were grateful to the Governor for hearing the cries of the traders who have been grossly oppressed by the removed Commissioner.
He said the Commissioner went to the extent of backing the Caretaker Chairman Committee he imposed on Ose Okwodu to dissolve Zonal Executives of Ose Okwodu Drug Market and Ajasa Market all in Ose Okwuodu.
He said this singular move which had the backing of Ngonadi brought friction and fracas in the Markets as the traders resisted because there is nowhere a Caretaker Committee dissolves an elected executives.
He pleaded with the Governor to restore those Market leaders whose tenures are still running so as to complete their legally guaranteed tenure.
Also speaking, the Woman leader of the Market, Mrs Anachu Kate, said the leadership of the Caretaker Committee has been causing trouble in the Market since they were imposed on the traders against their wish by Ngonadi.
“The Caretaker wants to kill us, causing crisis here and there in the Markets. If we attend any meeting, the Caretaker Chairman would send his thugs to lock up our shops. We have gone to Awka several times to lodge our petitions but our petitions didn’t moved the former Commissioner.
He said in leadership, people should not be allowed to go through the back door but follow due process, which is through electoral process.
” We are therefore calling on the Governor to restore those who were removed in the middle of their tenure. This will bring him more fame to the traders as a Governor with a listening ears.
Others who spoke in the same vein included the Secretary of Patent Medicine Dealers, Ose Okwodu, Charles Fidelis and Uba Lazarus, Patron and former Vice-Chairman, Ose Okwuodu Market, who alleged that the current Ose Okwodu Care-taker Chairman was recommended by the former Chairman of defunct Amalgamated Market Traders of Anambra State (AMATAS).
