The Anambra state House of Assembly says it will continue to legislate towards ensuring lasting peace in all the markets across the state.
The Chairman House Committee on Public Petition, Mr Obi Nweke stated this while presiding over a matter brought to the House by some members of the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders, Association, ASMATA, at the Committee room of the legislative complex in Awka.
Some members of the ASMATA executive including Chief Emmanuel Obiagwu, Chief Henry Akpotue and Calistus Okeke, wrote a petition to the House asking the law makers to look into high handedness, financial misappropriation and abuse of office alleged to have been committed by the President General of the Association, Chief Humphrey Anuna.
Mr Obi Nweke told both parties who appeared before the Committee that the interest of the lawmakers was to resolve their differences amicably for the interest of peace and security in the various markets across the state. According to Mr Nweke. the state House of Assembly ably led by the Speaker, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze will continue to partner the executive arm to ensure that its policies and programmes benefit the people including protecting traders in the area.
Presenting their petition before the Committee, one of the ASATU executives, Chief Obiagwu claimed that the poor leadership quality and greed by the PG has tactically frustrated many market leaders to stop attending meetings where the interest of the traders are decided, leading to a disconnect of over ninety percent of the markets from ASATU.
This, he said, has no doubt impeded on both revenue generation and general administration of the markets.
The Petitioners alleged that the leadership style of the President General had made it almost impossible for the offices of the Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Welfare, Secretary General, 1st and 2nd Vice President,Provost as well as Zonal Leaders to function effectively in the interest of the people.
According to Chief Obiagwu, the ASATU President General has purportedly claimed that he has sacked 15 out of the 22 persons appointed to pilot the affairs of the Markets by Governor Chukwuma Soludo led administration.
He, however, noted that the Chief of Staff to the Governor and the Special Adviser to the governor had confirmed to them that the PG had no such powers to sack executive members appointed alongside with him by the government.
Chief Obiagwu told the Committee that the PG had sidelined all the major members of the ASATU executives while he uses his daughter , Onyinye Anuna to run the financial transactions of the Association without the consent of the Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Provost, Vice President and some others.
He narrated that the PG have been collecting levies and receiving 3 percent meant for the Association using his personal accounts while he also obtained a private POS machine and ATM Mastercard which is used to access the executive account at will.
Responding , the President General , Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders, Association, Chief Humphrey Anuna described the allegations as baseless and lies from a member he personally nominated to the Governor thinking he has integrity.
Chief Anuna however told the law Makers that he will study the written petition to enable him present a detailed narration and responses on the next adjourned date.
Our Correspondent reports that the Public Petition Committee adjourned till Friday 4th April for further hearing and deliberations on the matter.
