By Uzo Ugwunze
In her bid to ensure 100 per cent votes for Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, of Anambra State, come 2025 gubernatorial election, the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, has continued her inauguration of Soludo Support Group, SSG, with the latest inauguration being held at Electrical parts market, Ugwuagba Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area.
As usual, the ASMATA prayer group led by the coordinator, Pastor Jeremiah, had after his homily, that preceded the inauguration, gave way for the proper business of the day which was the inauguration and subsequent swearing in of the market SSG team.
Shortly after the prayer session, the ASMATA President General, PG, Chief Humphrey Anuna, addressed the traders on the need for the formation of the SSG in the markets adding that the governor did not only restore peace and tranquility in the markets but also ushered in decorum in market leadership.
Chief Anuna also stressed the need for traders in the market to always stand by the truth if they want to make it in life and at the same time make heaven.
He lamented that traders lack knowledge which makes them to mess up stating that when one believes in God he will not have problem in his life saying that truth helps one to progress in life.
“Governor Soludo has come to better the welfare of the people and all can attest to it. We are not here for campaign, but to create awareness on the numerous achievements of the governor, when the time comes for campaign we talk about that. We are here to inaugurate the team that will create awareness on the governor’s achievements in two years,” Anuna stated.
He disclosed to the traders of N40 billion loan by WEMA bank to traders in the state and urged them to apply immediately through the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, even as he advised interested traders to visit his office for details on how to get the loan.
Chief Anuna specifically told importers in the market to make use of the loan opportunity to enable them extend the kind gesture to their apprentice traders who according to him will benefit in one way or the order.
In his Inauguration/swearing in speech, the state chairman of ASMATA SSG, comrade Peter Okala, charged the inaugurated team led by the market chairman, Chief John Bosco Onunkwo, to intensify creation of awareness on Soludo’s achievements.
He told them that in each of the lines in the market two traders will be appointed to help spread the good news of the Governor’s achievements stating that his achievements are there for everyone to see.
Okala listed some of the governor’ s achievements in just two years to include, roads construction, employment of medical personnel, teachers, installation of street solar lights, free medical care to pregnant mothers, employment of youths through one youth two skills initiative, among others.
He reminded both indigenes and non indigenes of the traders in the market of the need to procure voting cards as instrument of power to re elect Governor Soludo for second tenure adding that those who voted outside the state should no transfer their cards to the state for Soludo.
“This is a state where you make your business, built your house, married, trained your children, among others. The state does you well, why can’t you vote for governor Soludo who has done all these things for yo,” he querried.
In his response, the market chairman who is also the leader of the market SSD, Onunkwo, expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the ASMATA PG and his executives towards ensuring return of governor Soludo for second tenure and urged them not to relent.
He stated that the governor has done a lot to warrant returning him for second tenure pledging 99.5 per cent votes for him from traders in the market come the governorship election in 2025.
In his vote of thanks the pioneer market chairman, Chief Innocent Okey Muojekwu, on behalf of all the traders and incumbent chairman, expressed satisfaction and commended ASMATA PG, his team and governor Soludo for all their efforts in Anambra state.
“We traders are happy for all your advice, mostly the loan you are fighting to get for traders. Our chairman said earlier that we will give the governor 99.9 per cent of votes because he is doing marvelously well,” he affirmed
