By Our market Correspondent
The Anambra State Commissioner for Commerce, Markets and Wealth Creation, Chief Uchenna Okafor (Wiper) has been accused of plotting to impose the current Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr Ajanma of Onitsha Bridgehead Drug Market, popularly called Ogbogwu on the traders of the market.
In a joint petition by three pressure groups in the Market, the traders also alleged that Ajanma and the Commissioner popularly called “Wiper” might have allegedly siphoned about N100m belonging to the market Union.
The petition were signed by Chief Godwin Maduka,
Chairman, Ogbogwu Elders Forum (OEF), Chief Zack Unah, Publicity Secretary, Anambra Traders’ Forum (ATF), and Chief Ikechukwu Okoli, Chairman of Citizens Traders’ Forum (CTF).
They lamented that the election which was to hold June last year, 2020, could not, rather Ajanma was imposed on the traders because they wanted to install an Omambala person at all cost.
The traders also alleged that the Anambra State Government collected huge sums of money from the aspirants ranging from N250, 000, for chairmanship aspirants, 200,000, for the post of secretary, N150,000, Vice-chairmanship position, M50, 000 for other positions as against other markets that paid N20, 000 for the purchase of forms.
The traders also alleged that all the monies generated by the caretaker committee that were supposed to be used to work for the market were diverted to Ajanma’s purse without the consent of the members of CTC.
“He does not give the members of the Committee anything, rather he tells them off, sidelines them. He gathers everything for himself. If anybody asks him, he tells you whether you know how much he spends in Awka” said the traders.
They continued : The money generated from the market is almost N100m. The money includes the money from Ogbogwu park, trucks, money generated from electricity (each trader pays N1, 000.00 per month), companies’ annual dues, ID cards, donations from importers and stakeholders, percentage from stallage fees, barrow tolls at the cost of N50 per a barrow”.
The traders said they had appealed to the Hon. Commissioner to intervene but he refused.
They said they had equally written a petition to the Commissioner on behalf of the aggrieved members where they outlined the misappropriation but it was also swept under the carpet without response.
Following this development, the members of Caretaker Committee have threatened to disrupt or boycott the election if the commissioner refused to compel the CTC chairman, Mr Ajamma to account for the money under his custody.
The traders warned :”That elections must not hold unless Mr Ajamma accounts for the union money in his possession.That Ajamma who was imposed on other candidates should either conduct election for other candidates or step down, hand over to somebody who is not contesting the election or to the electoral committee chairman in case he wants to contest to ensure fairness in the election”
They argued that his Electoral Committee abinitio was flawed because he single handedly constituted the committee who traders have vowed to resist because the current CTC members were not aware of any election in the market.
They warned that these grievances and many more could cause break down of law and other in Onitsha Bridgehead market which if properly handled could be averted.
In another development, Stakeholders condemn setting up Caretaker Committee for Onitsha Drug Market, accused Governor Willie Obiano of destroying markets to install kinsmen.
THE TRADERS STATEMENT READS
Onitsha Drug Market, Bridgehead, has rejected in unmistakable term the betrayal of traders of the Market by Anambra State Government which set up Caretaker Committee, instead of conducting an inclusive election they have been preparing since last year.
The group after their emergency meeting unanimously rejected the imposition of undemocratic executives on the market by the Governor to please his Omanbala peoople.
In the statement signed by the leader of the Stakerhokders Godwin Chukwukadibia and Nze Chukwunonye Ajamma said that, it was pathetic that the Government of Obiano has turned the market into private enterprise of Nando community in Anambra North Local Government Area of the State.
They said that the chairman of the present Caretaker Chief Ajanma hails from Nando, the same community with his predecessor Chikelue.
Describing the appointment as a clear infringement of the constitution of the market , the group accused Governor Obiano of hiding under the cloak of Covid-19 to pepetuate this act of illegality in order to install his kinsman as he did in Onitsha Main Market where he installed his immediate inlaw with several other markets in the State.
” The Governor behaves as if he is not a product of democracy,. He has not allowed democracy to be internalised and deepened in the markets.
The continous installation of Caretaker Committees in different markets in the state is a clear indication that he is aversed to democracy even though he became a Governor through democratic process” they said.
The Stakerhokders argued that if INEC is conducting election in Edo and Ondo States , there is no reason why election cannot be conducted in markets in Anambra State, saying that State Government used Covid-19 as an alibi to install People from Anambra North Senatorial zone in the market.
The Stakerhokders asked Governor Willie Obiano to immediately reverse the Caretaker Committee and conduct an all inclusive election, where members of the market would be given opportunity to vote and be voted for.
They expressed shock that Governor Obiano was afraid of Covid-19 but he could not provide ordinary face masks and testing centres for the citizens in the State.
“He should reverse the Caretaker Committee within next 14 days of publication of this story or face massive protest by the traders of Drug market” said the group.
The group also called on the Governor to conduct election for the umbrella Market body in the State on the platform of AMATAS.
“He should have the political will to allow traders to conduct election in their markets .
He should return AMATAS the only valid cum legitimate umbrella body of traders in the State to organise credible election in Anambra markets” they warned.
