Voters Registration: Council Secretary Sensitize Market …….Stresses Need For Peaceful Co Existence In The Market
By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
The Secretary to Onitsha South Local Government Area, Paul Onuachalla Esq. has sensitized Ozomagala Building Materials Market Traders on the need to obtain their voters registration cards which is ongoing and stressed on reasons every trader must have got it.
Onuachalla while speaking during the meeting of the traders at their market Hall Ozomagala, Onitsha South Local Government Area, stressed that every trader must be registered, that it is part of the allocation of the resources being allocated to regions, added that a lot of things are involved, advised those who registered outside Onitsha South LG to go for change of location.
According to him,”Soon, there will be census, not only that, for us, we see it as valid rule of validity , whenever you need the assistance of the Council, for instance, your child wants to enter Federal Schools, Army, Police College, among others, with the voters card, we can approve it for you”,He posited.
On the crisis rocking the market, Onuachalla advised them to address whatever petition they have to the Council Mayor who foresees for the markets in the council area, warned them to desist from writing petitions from Onitsha to Zone 13 and to the AIG of police which is very far and not in their best interest.
He said, “The position of the LG is very clear, nobody has the power to start investigating markets, the LG has to be consulted at the first instance, anybody that has petition, submit it to the LG Mayor, he will look into it, if there is need for security advice, he will advice you, we have 2 Divisional Police Officers, DPOs.
“We should learn how to save our resources, we are Igbos, why should a trader spent millions of naira only to detain somebody, then after that, what happened, taking simple civil matters to police, spending money over non issue, stop wasting your money unnecessarily”
“Local government is autonomous not only on naira and kobo, the issue of Parks and Markets is under LG, it is the primary functions of the LG, the letter that restored it is very clear, the era of Caretaker Committee has gone but now, there is fully state government and fully Supreme Court ruling that affirmed it that LG is autonomous.
“So as far as Onitsha South LG is concerned, we stick to that law and we equally have the Anambra State Administration Law 2024, which is a compendium of how the governor want the LG to be run in Anambra State and that affirmed the LG control of market.
“Your Chairman is doing well and it is not easy to make achievements as a leader, he did well by securing a Plaza of 50 years lease for you, and you should know that after all these fights, all the garnered interest will not be for your own interest and after everything, the consequences will be on you traders.
Contributing, the former elected Chairman of the market, Chief Ifezue Ferdinand stated that he was the first elected chairman of the market and the one that provided the market Hall. He appreciated Governor Charles Soludo’s infrastructural development in the state and the dual carriageway from Nwagu Agulu to Nnewi, thanked the Council Mayor, Hon Emeka Orji for his intervention on the crisis of the market
Earlier, the Chairman of the market Obiora Okoro who emphasized on the need for voters registration card and the re-election of the governor come November 8 gubernatorial election informed the traders to obtain their voters registration at Nweje Primary School which is very close to the market, adding that he has discussed with the officials over there.
He also informed the market on the Mayors fight to ensure that all traders obtain his or her voters register card reiterated that the Mayor has their interest at heart as well they should appreciate him by obtaining their voters registration card.
