By Phil Okose, Onitsha
Traders in Anambra State Friday, maintained their position that Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State would not be voted for second tenure in office come 2025 unless the President General (PG), Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, (ASMATA), Chief Humphrey Anuna and his Special Adviser, (SPAD), on Trade and Markets, Hon. Evarist Uba were sacked.
Briefing newsmen in Awka, they accused those who defended the duo of SPAD and ASMATA PG as counter publication, of being bought over, adding that their defence was of no effect as the entire traders in the state had made their position loud and clear.
Speaking on behalf of traders at Onitsha Main Market, Chief Mathew Uchuga, said: “We maintain our earlier position that Soludo should sack SPAD and ASMATA PG and conduct market election for us to vote for his second tenure. It is no big deal, it is just that the duo are selfish and they ushered in nepotism in the market.
“They appoint and fire traders at will and we say enough is enough. We are not kids to be slaves to them. The Governor is doing good job in the State but that will not move us to vote for his second tenure if he doesn’t sack these two.
“Those that they bought over to counter our position have been promised juicy posts and what we want to tell the Governor is that any time names of people are brought to him for a position in the market, he should call those sacked and asked them what they did that warranted their sack,” he advised.
Collaborating the speech of Uchuga, a chieftain at Ochanja market, Chikansi Ohaekwerem, said: “There is no going back in our position that the PG and SPAD will be sacked for the traders to have fresh air and breathing space. Since the two of them were appointed they direct the affairs of the market to the detriment of the traders
“This intimidation must stop and it is through sacking them that it will stop and then election conducted so that elected executives will pilot the affairs of traders and not by military dictatorship.
“We are tired of SPAD and ASMATA PG, let us have fresh air. We need conduct of election as Soludo needs conduct of local Government election. The Governor knows the value of democracy and that is what we are pleading for not appointment.
“The two embattled heads know that we don’t want them anymore. We need their sack even before the conduct of the local government election to show that we are not happy with them because they see themselves as the highest authority that can make or mar any trader in the state,” he disclosed.
