The market has had four leaderships in the last four months since the removal of Nwawuzie. The Vice President, Chinedu Ijezie succeeded Nwawuzie
Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Traders at the Ogbaru Main Market, a suburb of Onitsha, in Anambra State, have vowed to resist alleged imposition of caretaker committees as the market has had four leaderships in the last four months.
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In a resolution reached an Extraordinary Joint Meeting, held at the market hall yesterday, the traders also decided that the former chairman of the market, Chief Victor Nwawuzie (Akirika Ukpor), who was removed by the Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Wealth Creation, Dr. Christian Madubuko, be returned to complete his tenure.
The traders equally resolved that, in alternative, the present leadership of Chief Buknor Agu, be allowed to complete the tenure of Chief Nwawuzie. But, where the two resolutions are not acceptable by the powers that be, they agreed that there should be a by-election to fill the vacant positions in the market executive, although they said the option negates their constitution.
In the meeting presided over by the current president, Agu, and attended by the wide spectrum of people representing various interests, the traders said imposition of the caretaker committee was an aberration and a recipe for crisis and instability in the market.
The market has had four leaderships in the last four months since the removal of Nwawuzie. The Vice President, Chinedu Ijezie succeeded Nwawuzie, but was removed after three months and replaced by Agu.
But, last week, the commissioner, working in concert with few vested interests, named one Ndubuisi Ochiogu as the chairman of the new caretaker committee to take over from Agu, but the traders refused, which led to the closure of the market to avert breakdown of law and order.
The timely intervention of the leadership of Amalgamated Traders Association of Anambra State (AMATAS), however, saved the situation.
But, in spite of the stout resistance against the interim leadership by the traders, some few powerful individuals in the market, especially from the Board of Trustees (BoT), were bent on installing Ochiogu for their selfish interest, hence, the need for yesterday’s crucial meeting.
Part of the resolution of the meeting was also the setting up of Peace and Reconciliation Committee, where every segment of the market would be represented, to reconcile every member and group, especially the sectional heads, who went to court to challenge alleged denial of their rights in the market.
Agu said the market needed everything that would make peace possible, especially now that Yuletide is fast approaching.
