Is Either Ogbaru Main Market Election or Public Protest; Group Threatens Gov. Obiano

From GUEST CORRESPONDENT (AWKA)

A body, under the aegis of Ogbaru Main Market Concerned Traders (OMMCT), has threatened  Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State to prevail on the Commissioner for Commerce and Market, Chief Uchenna Okafor, to immediately organize an election in Ogbaru Main Market before another crisis sparks off in the market or witness public protest.

The group in a chat with newsmen in Onitsha a few hours ago, alleged that the Governor had already given ASMITA the nod to conduct elections in all the markets but Chief Okafor refused to carry it out due to his interest.

Chief Ikechukwu Ojukwu, who spoke for the group said; “ASMITA; the umbrella body of the traders in the State was ready to conduct elections in all Anambra markets before November 6, 2021, gubernatorial election but the Commissioner would not allow the election(s) to hold for whenever his interest was involved.

“Recently, the Governor in his magnanimity had directed that election be held in all the markets before November 6 Governorship election.

Unfortunately, the Commissioner is selective in the markets, therefore, directed that an election should not be conducted, even when ASMITA, which is its primary duty to conduct an election is ready to conduct an election in our markets.

The traders alleged that because of the Commissioner’s interest in Ogbaru Main Market, he has refused election to hold in the market as others.

The traders, through their spokesperson, accused a prominent member of the market, Chief Sam Mendu, a PDP chieftain of being behind Chief Ndubuisi Ochiogu who he introduced to  Chief Joseph Ukeji (Edison) who in turn recommended Ochiogu for the Caretaker Committee Committee Chairman of the Market.
” Both Mendu and Edison are working with the Commissioner to ensure that there is no election in the market until the next Governor takes over the reins of power,” said the group” 

They also alleged that Ochiogu was quoted as having said during one of the prayer sessions of the market which holds on Fridays that Edison had prevailed on the Governor so that there will be no election in the market until after November 6 Governorship election.

The Concerned Traders said that Edison has no single shop in the market, lamenting that he is tearing Relief Market apart by insisting that Ochiogu will continue to stay in the market on Caretaker capacity.

They noted that for almost one and half years now, the market was being run by Caretaker, first by Chief  Nwawuzie, now by Ochiogu. Unfortunately, both of them have failed to perform because they did not have the mandate of the traders.

The concerned traders said: “Sir if all the big men in Anambra State install their persons in the markets, there will be crises in all the markets. Our interest is that the election should hold immediately and if it fails to hold, then there will be a crisis in the market. We will embark on the massive protest that will shake the entire State and beyond”.

“Our appeal to Your Excellency is that he should issue a directive for the election in Relief Market to hold immediately,” said the Concerned Traders.

The traders said that a democratic election in the market is necessary especially now the Governorship election is a few months away from now, noting that it will make the traders freely support APGA candidates.

Efforts to get the Commissioner for Commerce, Chiefs Mendu and Ukeji, to speak on the allegations failed but Chief Ochiogu who spoke to newsmen dismissed the threat and allegation as the handiwork of those who believe that his growing popularity due to his achievements in the last seven months would eclipse theirs.

He said their joint meeting of Board of Trustees (BoT), Sectional Heads, the Executive who are the representatives of the people have decided the election will hold between January and February next year.

He said the reason was that they don’t hold elections in the market in “ember months”. After all, it is the season.

He accused those behind the above-stated move as some elements who are jealous of his performance, having cleared the drainage, installed solar light, restored public power to the market after several years they were cut-off, revamping and reticulating of water in the market among others.