Crisis at importers association, Ugwuagba Obosi Old Motor Parts market, Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State has deepened as a rival group reportedly refused to hand over an office key to a new caretaker committee set up by the state government.
Recall that the state government set up the caretaker committee through the Anambra State Amalgamated Traders’ Association (ASMATA) led by Chief Humphrey Anuna, when the importers spoilt for a showdown on February 29, 2024, when they wanted to conduct an election to elect a new executive to pilot their affairs.
It was gathered that since after the swearing in of the new caretaker committee, its leadership has not been given the key to the office by a rival group which prompted the ASMATA leadership in collaboration with the chairman of Ugwuagba market, Chief Samuel Ifurunwa, to force the office open to enable the new caretaker committee to start work.
According to the Ugwuagba market chairman: “I have repeatedly asked the Chief Trustee of the Importers to hand over the key of the office to the caretaker committee set up by the state government.
“So I have to invite the security operatives, the Healthy and Clean Anambra State, (Ocha Brigade) and other stakeholders to witness the entry of the office and be in the know of items that were in the office,” he said.
Reacting, the caretaker committee chairman, Chief Onyegiri Francis, thanked the ASMATA President General and Governor Charles Soludo for coming to the rescue of the traders, adding that if not for their intervention there would have been bloodbath on February 29.
He promised to carry everybody along and ensure that peace was restored to pave way for conduct of an election. He condemned the act of refusing to hand over office key to the officially constituted caretaker committee set up by the state government, describing it as a slight.
Other members of the 11-man caretaker committee are Nwosu Afam, vice chairman; Egbunonu Amaechi, secretay; Okonta Leonard, assistant secretary; G.OC. Frank,financial secretary; Okeke Chikeke, treasurer; Anaonye Valentine, provost; Desmond Ubawuike, assistant provost; Ononuju Anayo, member and Umeakunne Vitus, member.
In his own contribution, Chief Ifeanyi Eduwogu, disclosed that if not for the intervention of ASMATA, it would have been a sad story as all were set for war in the name of election.
In their various remarks, members of the caretaker committee thanked the ASMARA PG, Governor Soludo, traders and stakeholders, including the security operatives for the role they played that assisted to subvert bloodbath in the market.
