By Praise Chinecherem
The chairman of Caretaker Committee of Ochanja Central Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, Chief Bonaventure Muo has accused some persons allegedly stopped from diverting market levies into their private pockets of responsibility in the recent publication calling for the sack of President General, of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna and Special Adviser, (SPAD), to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Trade and Markets, Hon. Evarist Uba.
Making the disclosure to newsmen, Muo said, “They are the opposition we have in our market, they even tell traders not to pay the new #30,000 stallage levy and that is why we are behind other markets like Bridge head, Ogbogwu, Main Market, and others.
“It is the opposition that is calling for market election, they are the people who criticize any government policy in markets. We are the caretaker committee members they are indirectly asking government to sack. When they get into office they oppose government policies and program as their motive is to divert government revenue.
“We are caretaker committee and I am not contesting any election position, these people are just talking nonsense, we don’t have problem with ASMATA PG and SPAD. They are not happy that the duo stopped them from causing market crisis and diverting government revenue to private pockets when they were in power and that prompted their publication against PG and SPAD.”
However, a chieftain in the market, Chief Nwabueze Umeh, (Ofia fuluego), disagreed with the Ochanja market chairman’s position, stating that he, (Muo), may be responsible for the publication maintaining that whoever that wants power can do anything to get it.
“Muo may be responsible for the publication against SPAD and ASMATA PG because he wants power by all means and whoever that wants power by all means can do anything to get it. I read the publication online and it is propaganda, written by self centered people .Those talking of sack of PG and SPAD are talking rubish.
“I am a stakeholder in the market and I give SPAD and PG vote of confidence. Muo has been blackmailing me and accusing me of embezzling market fund and setting ablaze the fuel tanker that caused fire disaster in the market. One who blackmails can do such publication against ASMATA PG and SPAD. There is no achievement in his leadership rather problems, for one year there is no power supply in the market”, he further revealed.
Briefing newsmen also, five Onitsha Main Market line chairmen, led by a former zone 1, chairman, Hon. Gibson I. Okafor, (a.k.a.Igwe Bida), accused the incumbent caretaker committee chairman of Onitsha Main market, Chief Innocent Ezeoha, of being responsible for the publication.
To buttress their claim, they cited when SPAD stopped Ezeoha from collecting #2,000 enumeration levy from traders and from plan to collect #3,000 from each trader for the renovation of the market white house secretariat adding that Ezeoha did the said publication in retaliation against SPAD.
The line chairmen in attendance included, Aloysius Maduegbunam, chairman police line, John Paul Udoji, chairman Optical line, Obidike, chairman lucky line and a stakeholder, Onyekachi Francis.
“Speaking on behalf of others Okafor said, “I feel Ezeoha collaborated with his stooges to do that publication. Those behind the publication who claim to control the market don’t have control of the markets, we have control of the markets. Traders are known for gossip. SPAD and ASMATA PG are doing well,” they stated.
On the call for market election they said that, “Whether elected or appointed what we want is good leader. Onitsha Main Market has no good leadership and we want the government to sack the leadership. Ezeoha runs sole administration and should learn to operate in line with the market rules and regulations,” they further added.
In a swift reaction when contacted, the Main market chairman, Ezeoha, denied all the allegations they leveled against him stating that the team and her leader, Okafor, are the major problems of Onitsha Main Market and should be held responsible for the said publication.
“They have their major sponsor with the alias, ‘Ken Bigger,’ and they are stabilizing the market to sack me. They did the publication calling for removal of SPAD and ASMATA PG. I can’t be accusing the government that I am serving.
“Okafor who is called Igwe Bida vowed that if I am not removed that he will make sure that SPAD and PG are sacked, he said it in our meeting and is on record. They are the ones fighting government. They are the ones that oppose government policy and programs and call for election instead of caretaker.
“They attack me because I refuse to join them in attacking government. On the #2,000 enumeration levy, Government is aware of it through SPAD and SPAD has told them that it is legal but they did not relate to the traders what SPAD told them rather they present a different angle to it,” he disclosed.
A Chieftain at Ogbaru Relief, (Main) market, Chief David Obidike, in his reaction to the publication stated that, ” SPAD and ASMATA PG have not done anything wrong in piloting the affairs of the traders that will warrant the said publication. I was shocked to the marrow when I saw the publication online because Governor Soludo, through these two people restored the lost glory of markets in the state.
“”We are on ground to ensure Soludo is returned for second tenure and he is unstoppable because of his gigantic strides in the state. Enemies are at work but it will not happen. Conduct of market election is good but it has to be done at a convenient time by the state Government,” he posited.
