Market Elders In Anambra Want Caretaker ...give 14 day ultimatum to Govt.

Gov. Willi Obiano

The Anambra State Government has  been given 14 -day ultimatum to set up a Caretaker Committee in Ogbaru Main Market following the alleged gross and established cases of corruption and fraud against the leadership of Chief Victor Nwawuzie.

Speaking to newsmen during a press briefing in Onitsha, the Ogbaru Main Market Elders Forum (OMMEF), said there have been instances of corruption and fraud in  the collection of government revenue such as stollage fees,traders' tax, and development levy.

Speaking on behalf of the OMMEF, Chief Nnamdi Okonkwo,  alleged that 70 percent of revenues collected in the market  were not paid into Government's purse.



The group called on the State Government a seven-man Committee to unravel the criminality going on in the market.

They said if anybody was  found culpable, the person should be arrested, prosecuted and jailed if found guilty to serve as deterrent to others.

"And such characters should not be allowed to hold any public office in the State markets" Okonkwo said.

The group lauded the Commissioner for Commerce, Market and Wealth Creation, Dr. Christian Madubuko, for his zeal to fight corruption in Anambra markets especially in Ogbaru Main Market.

"We also commend the Governor for his support to the Commissioner. The traders in the  Market will be grateful because they would have been freed from suffering.It will save the traders and the market from one single individual who has hijacked the revenues of the market"said the Elders.

Continuing  they said "Government cannot fold hands in this economic depression for only one man to siphon money meant for  development. Ogbaru is one of the dirtiest markets in the entire State" said the group.

They said the current leadership under Nwawuzie in the market has not achieved anything  since he  became the chairman of the market.

" He therefore has no moral right to remain as the chairman of the market, while Government revenues  are being pocketed by few individuals.If within 14 days  there is no  Caretaker Committee in the market, the stakeholders will mobilise the entire market to show case their anger"said the group.

The Elders said  this is not a matter of undermining democracy but to ensure sanity was maintained in the market.

They lauded the President-General of Amalgamated Markets Traders of Anambra State (AMATAS), Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, for leading the Market to a successful completion of his tenure with bright political future.

The Stakeholders urged others who will succeed Ewepudike  as the "most proactive, transparent, successful, accountable and humane  leader, whose tenure brought peace and harmony among traders in the State without strife and faction in the entire Market "