By Praise Chinecherem
Traders in Anambra State have criticized the dissolution and subsequent appointment of new executive of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, saying it was worsening crisis in various markets in the State.
Reacting under the platform of Concerned Anambra Traders, led by its chairman, Chief Gabriel Okeke, the traders said those newly appointed members were worse than the immediate past executive sacked by Soludo as most of them were former ASMATA members involved in causing crisis in the markets.
He said, “The new executive members are worse than the Chief Ikechukwu Ekwegbalu-led executive that was sacked by the Governor because most of the new members have nothing tangible doing and have no shops in the market.
“The new President General, Chief Humphrey Anuna, has been a member of the sacked ASMATA executive that has been part of the crisis rocking markets in the State. Apart from the three patrons in the 24-man new ASMATA executive, the rest have nothing tangible doing in the markets. Some don’t even have shops in the market, including the new President General.
“Some were given the appointment by few of Governor Charles Soludo’s cabinet members, especially the Commissioners and I advise the Governor to monitor his Commissioners, including the Chief of Staff, now that there is no Commissioner for Commerce and Trade.
“The person/persons that may have recommended and advised for the appointment of the members of the present ASMATA executive does not want the progress of traders and people of the state because most of the appointees have not tested or held chairmanship of their markets, let alone leading traders as ASMATA executive.”
Okeke also faulted the 24-man number of the new executive adding that any caretaker appointment should not be more than nine and should not be less than eight to avoid crisis within the leadership.
“Again, there was no proper consultation with genuine traders before the appointment to forestall future crisis as those appointment can not be able to give in clear term, the problems confronting the traders and how to stop them,” he further explained.
