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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Traders in Onitsha, Anambra state under the aegis of Ozomagala Building Materials Association have appealed to Professor Charles Soludo to come to their rescue over the imposition of leadership and intimidation allegedly by his Special Adviser on Markets.
In a public protest, led by their former elected Chairman, Chief Ferdinand Ifezue and current Chairman, Chief Obiora Okoro the traders bemoaned the arrest of their leaders by security agents and constant intimidation, a development they described as unacceptable.
The protesting traders besieged the premises of Onitsha South local government area with written inscriptions; “Ozomagala is a private plaza and not public Market”, “SPAD respect Court order, stop intimidation us”, “We say no to imposition of leadership, leadership is not by force”, “Modebe shopping plaza is not a public Market” amongst others.
Speaking during the protest, the former Chairman of the traders, Chief Ferdinand Ifezue said that they have been trading peacefully at Modebe shopping plaza until Special Adviser to Governor on Market, Chief Everist Uba suddenly imposed Care-taker leadership on them.
He stated that their greatest annoyance was that the tenure of their elected leaders have not elapsed, adding that plazas where they are occupying is a private plaza not registered under public Market.
“We explained to the SPAD that we were rented by Modebe Enterprises and we are not under public Market but he said, we should obey whatever he said. But, we did not welcome such development. We also complained to Modebe Enterprises who promised to take up the matter. So, we are calling on Soludo to rescue us from the hand of SPAD. He even arrested our leaders with security agents last week” Said Ifezue.
The former Chairman further revealed that they have signed Fifty (50) years lease agreement with Modebe Enterprises, saying that Chief Uba should allow them to choose their leaders and stop intimidating them with security agents as well as allow them to complete the ongoing renovation in the plazas.
Similarly, the current elected Chairman, Chief Obiora Okoro also stated that they are not registered under public Market, affirming that SPAD imposed Care-taker leadership on them while their tenure has not elapsed.
He asserted that they were renovating the plaza under the instruction from the State Government, wondering why SPAD should impose a care-taker leadership on them since they have already elected their leaders as well as not registered as a public Market even as he alleged that SPAD went ahead and registered their Market with different name in order to make sure they belong to public Market which he said they are not.
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Addressing the traders, the Mayor of Onitsha South local government, Chief Emeka Orji lauded the traders for their peaceful protest, reminding them that local government belongs to everybody but not owned by anybody.
Orji who addressed traders through the local government Secretary, Hon. Paul Osuachala expressed concern about their plight, saying that when they heard their challenges, they felt it, confirming that Ozomagala is a private plaza and not a public Market.
“SPAD has no power to interfere in private Market even if it is public Market, still he has no power to interfere into your affair. The only people constitutionally authorized to regulate parks and Markets is local government. I am saying it with every sense of responsibility. If you check Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, if you also look at Anambra state local government administration law 2024, both laws empowers local government to regulate parks and Markets” Onuachala Stated.
“In your own case, this plaza you are talking about, I must thank Modebe family for queuing into Urban regeneration agenda of the Governor otherwise, they have choice of allowing the plaza to remain the way it was but they queued into the agenda and that is why we council is giving you support. You give the plaza a new face in line with Solution agenda because Mr. Governor is looking a way to regenerate Onitsha from Urban regeneration” He posited.
Osuachala however extended his appreciation to Modebe Enterprises for allowing the traders to occupy the plaza on lease agreement, assuring them that he has already tabled their complaint to the SPAD and also going to take the matter to the attorney general of the state as well as the conduct of SPAD on the Market as regards the particular issue.
“This is pure sabotage on Urban regeneration agenda of Mr. Governor and we will not allow that to happen. So, be rest assured that we are with you. In whichever way, we are with you because this is exactly what Mr. Governor wants. Mr. Governor wants a new Onitsha” Osuachala concluded.
Contacting Special Adviser to Governor on Markets (SPAD) to react on the allegations through telephone call, he replied, saying that he was in a Meeting and he could not talk.
Later, chat message was sent to him on the same issue to comment but, he did not reply as at the time of filling this report.
