Scores of traders in Onitsha, Anambra State have given the only condition why they will vote for the re-election of Governor Chukwuma Soludo during the 2025 Gubernatorial Election in the state.
They are demanding the sack of President General, PG, Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Markets. Hon. Evarist Uba.
The traders also called for the dissolution of the caretaker committees in the entire market and the conduct of fresh elections.
Addressing newsmen at Ochanja Central market, a Chieftain, Chief Onyeahuru Okeha, said the traders would only throw their weight behind the reelection of Governor Chukwuma Soludo if the duo were removed from office and fresh elections conducted in the markets.
He alleged that the Anuna and Uba have not been telling the governor the true position of traders, especially in both the market election and the governorship poll in the state.
He said, “I want to use this opportunity to tell our amiable Governor that all is not well in the markets in the state because the traders have been expecting the conduct of election in all the markets but is like those representing us, ASMATA PG and Hon. Uba, are not telling you the governor the truth.
“As a product of democracy the governor should know that caretaker committees can not represent the interest of government and traders more than the elected executives who stay for four years.
“Because of what the duo of PG and Uba benefit in the caretaker Committee, they keep on telling the governor that all is well.
“I have as a market leader attended several meetings at the ASMATA secretariat, Modebe road, where the PG will be presiding over the meetings for hours without any reasonable take home as what one learnt from the meetings.
“If you ask questions on government plan to conduct election in the markets you become his greatest enemy and your name listed in his bad book which he forwards to Uba, for necessary action against you as the duo collaborate and do not want any obstacle.”
Okeha said the governor should as a matter of urgency, sack the duo who have continued to benefit from the caretaker committees knowing that elected executives will not tolerate them.
He warned that any neglect of such conditions would amount to traders in the state voting for another party candidate to replace the governor in the next gubernatorial election in the state.
Another market chieftain at Onitsha Main market, Mathew Merem, told newsmen that traders are at the mercy of ASMATA PG and Hon. Uba, alleging that the two were only interested in what they would benefit from the traders and not what traders would benefit from them.
He revealed that most executives of ASMATA have been suspended without the knowledge of the governor, which he identified as a planned deal between the PG and the aide, Uba.
At Anaedo market, Nnewi, Chief Madu Osisioma, vowed that he would not attend the ASMATA weekly meeting again since the PG uses it to accuse perceived enemies of one thing or another adding that such intimidation must stop.
His words, “Since we started this meeting, it is always attack on the traders by the PG without cause, just that he feels you are not supporting whatever he says. At the end of any meeting no tangible thing will be take home as what you learnt.
“I plead with governor Soludo to kindly sack the two heads for us to vote for him because since they came in, it has been one problem or another,” he disclosed
