By Praise Chinecherem
Leadership crisis rocking the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA appears to be heading to a confrontational stage as factional market leaders Friday, maintained their stand for immediate sack of the embattled President General of ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna and his Special Adviser, (SPAD), on Trade and Markets, Hon. Evarist Uba.
They insist that their members would not back the re-election bid of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State in 2025 gubernatorial election unless he get rid of Anuna and his aide.
Briefing newsmen in Awka on behalf of traders at Onitsha Main Market, Chief Mathew Uchuga, said that the recent media campaign by the duo would not save them as the entire traders in the state have made their position loud and clear.
Hear him: “We maintain our earlier position that Soludo should sack SPAD and ASMATA PG and conduct market election for us to vote for his second tenure. It is no big deal, it is just that the duo are selfish and they ushered in nepotism in the market. They appoint and fire traders at will and we say enough is enough. We are not kids to be slaves to them.
He insists that Governor Soludo is doing good job in the state, “but that will not move us to vote for his second tenure if he doesn’t sack these two that have exploited the traders. Those that they bought over to counter our position have been promised juicy posts and what we want to tell the governor is that any time names of people are brought to him for a position in the market, he should call those sacked and asked them what they did that warranted their sack,” he advised.
Also speaking, a chieftain at Ochanja market, Chikansi Ohaekwerem, stated that,” There is no going back in our position that the PG and SPAD will be sacked for the traders to have fresh air and breathing space. Since the two of them were appointed they direct the affairs of the market to the detriment of the traders
“This intimidation must stop and it is through sacking them that it will stop and then election conducted so that elected executives will pilot the affairs of traders and not by military dictatorship.
“We are tired of SPAD and ASMATA PG, let us have fresh air. We need conduct of election as Soludo needs conduct of local Government election. The governor knows the value of democracy and that is what we are pleading for not appointment.
“The two embattled heads know that they have not achieved anything than to enrich themselves. We need their sack even before the conduct of the local government election to show that we are not happy with them because they see themselves as the highest authority that can make or mar any trader in the state,” he disclosed.
