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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Ndubuisi Chukwuleta is the Chairman, Ogbogwu International Market, Bridge Head, Onitsha. In this interview, he shares insights about the challenges, battles and triumphs against the sale of substandard/ fake products in the market which houses the highest sales and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.
What was the situation of things when you became the chairman of Ogbogwu market?
When we came on board, everything was not only comatose but without direction, no constitution guiding the market, no general meetings, no trustees no legal adviser etc. But I said we cannot move forward in that form so I told the traders the need to appoint a legal adviser who will be handling our matters and it was approved. Likewise the drafting of a constitution. Modalities for the constitution were drafted, reflecting the interests of indigenes of different states of the South-East in the market, as each of the states had representative slots in the constitution drafting committee. We took cognizance of the fact that you don’t fix a dilapidated house in one day, so we took intentional steps to create an enabling environment for traders to flourish and operate in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity, while abiding with stipulated regulations and guidelines. There have been series of leadership tussles here to the extent that no one has been able to lead the market for two tenures. It has always been struggle with the leadership until the person is booted out during the next election. Those anomalies are what we are fixing today.
You were able to introduce a different style of leadership in the market. How did you achieve that and didn’t you encounter oppositions?
I have set a precedent and also laid down the antecedents which has been subjected to scrutiny and proved to be positively different. Some of the same people who prospered in the old order went as far as amplifying their pull-him-down syndrome but to the glory of God, those who are genuine traders have seen our efforts to do things differently and they have been supporting us because they are in the majority. We gave a marching order when we assumed office that we don’t want any fake products or piracy of drugs here. We also told them that dealing in prohibited, banned or regulated substances is a no-go area. The traders collectively agreed and in a united front, we came up with punitive measures of dealing with such people and the resolution that such products will be confiscated and handed over to NAFDAC while such defaulters will have their shops locked until the person serves the punishment due for him. Instilling these disciplinary measures and sticking to the rules have gone a long way in sanitizing this market. Before now, some of the dealers in fake products were in the habit of sending emissaries and also used the contact of some influential persons in the society to plead their case when their products are confiscated and in most scenarios like that, such incidents are watered down and the culprit allowed to go scot-free to continue in his nefarious activities. But when we came on board, we said no to that style and ensured that the law should not be respecter of persons and statuses. Many thought that we will do it business as usual, when they flouted the rules, they tested our resolve and willpower but we stuck to our guns, and they didn’t have any option than to sit up. Here, we have confiscated goods worth millions of naira and never returned them to the owner but eventually handed those drugs over to NAFDAC for public incineration.
But there are some people now fighting your leadership to the extent of writing petitions to the governor and embarking on public demonstrations?
That is corruption fighting back. The main reason for agitation by some people that my leadership must give way is our battle against fake drugs. Our onslaught against them is yielding fruits and they are fighting back but we are undeterred in our efforts to ensure that such illicit business is eradicated totally here. We have to train new people who will take over from us in this battle and also give them the right orientation that will make them grounded in the same tactical fight against fakery. That is the reason why the fakers are fighting tooth and nail and also labelling me with all sorts of baggage. NAFDAC is aware of our efforts to sanitise the market which they have also acknowledged. We maintain utmost hygiene in the market too in such a way that you must sweep and clean your shop and surroundings, both morning and closing time. There should be something that differentiates a medicine dealer’s shop from an old motor spare parts dealer’s shop.
But some of those fighting your leadership were fellow executive members of the market?
Yes, they were, before government suspended them. I have a very harmonious working relationship with my executives. But there were those who are greedy and wanted the old order of sharing money without accountability and transparency to continue. When I said no to their selfish demands, they turned opposition and started fighting the leadership. There was a time they reported me to the police that I diverted N300 million from the union funds. Police invited me, scrutinized our books and financial records but I was given clean bill of health after their investigation because such kind of money has not even passed through our vaults. They did same thing with the House of Assembly Committee on Health and I was also cleared after investigations too. Their anger was that I remitted the whole money we generated as government revenue into the government coffers and never kept anything back. I did a transparent remittance of revenue to the government and they could not bear it. Some of them told me that I’ve committed abomination, that government money belongs to no one in particular, they said that the tradition is that we needed to settle ourselves with several millions of naira first before we can then remit the balance to government but I disappointed them by telling them that I can’t do that because I’m a child of God that carries the bible which is a bold identity. They thought I will compromise but when I insisted on the right thing by remitting all without keeping a kobo back, the battle line was drawn. They were eventually sacked by government because they refused to sign the NAFDAC undertaking document given to us as one of the conditions for the reopening of our market when the market was shut down for months. It is only the guilty shall that should be afraid.
Are you not afraid of threats to your life in the face of these battles?
Nobody is threatening my life because Heaven is behind our efforts. No one has ever called to threaten me because I’ve kept the administration’s affairs like an open book which everyone can see. We also seek people’s consent before taking any drastic steps. If anybody threatens me, the person is fighting Ogbo Ogwu and not me. Another thing protecting me is that I don’t collect kickbacks. Some people will collect money from behind and come out to enforce rules against such person. That is the kind that puts one’s life in danger but once you keep your hands clean, there is nothing to fear. What we see presently which is the highest they can go include defamation of character and fabrication of all manner of unfounded allegations on social media. We are undeterred, that’s why we also cater for the trader’s welfare. We distribute more than 200 bags of rice to all workers, past leaders, elders and executives of the market every Christmas. We have also organised free medical outreach in the market here where holistic healthcare services were rendered.
The market was engulfed with fire following an explosion from the chemical dealers’ line years ago. How did you people recover from the incident?
The explosion that rocked the market happened when we newly came in and it was a big blow because several buildings collapsed while lives were lost too. When the incident happened, government shut down this market temporarily and ordered total evacuation of debris and entire fumigation of the market. We hired excavators, pay loaders and tippers and they worked day and night for almost two weeks. After we concluded the task, we notified the government to come and assess. The government came and after careful scrutiny, gave us clean bill of health to continue our business and the rest today is history. We rally round to support those who are in trouble in this market. We regulated barrow pushers with greater scrutiny. We‘ve had cases before our leadership came on board where these barrow pushers diverted people’s goods in the market and sold them somewhere. We summoned a meeting of barrow pushers and came to agreement that they all will be formally registered with name tags and apron identity. They also brought surety who signed as their guarantor. That was how the criminally minded among them were flushed out and our action also ended the era of goods diversion in the market. We also provided a functional water system which was reticulated inside the market and in the modern conveniences where people can ease themselves at no cost. The steady power supply in the market, which we ensured by installing transformers, has also enhanced our operations and ensured that those products that require certain cold temperature will be maintained with refrigerators.
Your market was among those who supported Governor Soludo and even made financial contribution to his re-election. What was the motive behind that?
We considered the fact that Governor Soludo has judiciously applied the resources of the state to greater use. That is why a Book of History was created in his administration where individuals, communities, organizations including market unions go out of their way to identify by supporting the administration. That was what we did. My executives had meetings and resolved to seek funds to support the administration but suddenly some stakeholders and like-minded progressives in the market came together, made free will donations and we were able to raise N5m to support the administration. Governor Soludo has made tremendous impact in governance and if you look at all those who contested against him, you will realise that he is the best and so the best has won the election. His second tenure is well deserved and I believe Anambra will actually move to the real next level by the end of his tenure as governor.
