By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
A former chairman of Ogbaru Relief, (Main) market, Chief Victor Nwawuzie Akirika, has taken a swipe at traders behind the recent petition against the Anambra State Commissioner for Commmerce and Industry, Hon. Obinna Ngonadi, dismissing the petitioners as market touts and non indigenes.
He asserted that their motive for the petition, accusing the Commissioner of selling market leadership posts to highest bidders, was for Governor Chukwuma Soludo to sack him for doing good job by obstructing them from their continued means of illegal revenue generation that included, improper shops enumeration, diversion of fund, illegal shop construction, overstay in office, leadership imposition, among others.
His words: “There are also those defeated chairmanship candidates, like at Nkpor New Auto Spareparts market, and others, who even if they contest election 10 times, they will not win because majority of the traders don’t want them for being selfish and will be much interested in how to extort the traders if giving the opportunity.
“Again, the petitioners are fictitious names, there is nothing like Elite of Anambra State Traders, in any market in Anambra State, and those who sponsor the petition are out for character assassination against one of the best Market Commissioners, Hon. Ngonadi, since the inception of the State, he stated.
“This is a Commissioner with listening ears and always advises on the way forward and gives one time to rectify what ever mistakes/ illegalities committed before taking action, as his motive is focused on rightful means of sanity, peace, and cleanliness, while struggling to increase the revenue base of the State government”, Akirika maintained.
