Anakwe, Ex-OMMATU Leader Asks Obiano to Intervene Over Market Crisis

Gov Obiano

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State  has been urged to intervene without further delay to stop those who want to plunge the markets in the State into an unnecessary crisis.

Former President-General of Onitsha Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (OMATA), Chief Pius Ozo Anakwe, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Onitsha, the Anambra State commercial hub,  spoke against the back drop of forceful entry into  the offices of  Amalgamated  Markets  Traders Association of Anambra Traders (AMATAS) Monday by the Interim Committee set up by the State Government.

Anakwe said when he heard of the forceful ejection of Board of Trustees (BoT) of AMATAS and entry into their  corporate office at Modebe Avenue, Onitsha by the members of the resurrected ASMATA, he wondered if the order came from a Court of competent jurisdiction or where did it come from?



This is because, according to Chief Anakwe , AMATAS was registered and recognised as a body corporate by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

He called the leadership of security outfits in the State, the Commissioner of Police, the Director of State Security (DSS) among others to ensure that they don't avail their men for this illegality .
He said " I appeal to the law enforcement agencies  not to allow this illegal forceful ejection and entry but if it happened, they should be made to vacate the office with immediate effect. I learnt they have dismantled  the sign post of AMATAS and replaced  it with their own".

Continuing Anakwe said " l am compelled to ask,are we still in a military regime or  civilian administration? I heard the market leaders are being forced  to change name as if they were elected under Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association  (ASMATA)".

Chief Anakwe said since the inception of AMATAS in the past 10 years, the Government and traders have had cordial relationship  and the Government had no cause to complain".

He said the immediate past President-General of AMATAS, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, was elected on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to represent Orumba North and South in the House of Representatives.

Chief Anakwe said they expected the State Government to encourage the outgone President-general to conduct election, so that his successors will emerge.

This, he said, has become necessary to allow traders to elect their leadership, who they can trust can handle their triilion naira worth of goods in the market.

"You can't impose a Caretaker Committee who the traders do not trust . How can they protect the interest of traders and their goods?If you say you own the markets, the traders own the goods. You can't force  security and leadership on the tenants. Even in Government Estates, you don't do that. Why must you do that with traders? Traders must look after their own welfare and their goods. They should provide their own security. ASMATA is the recognised body with reconised leadership. It is verifiable"Anakwe reasoned.
He said whoever was encouraging misunderstanding between AMATAS and the Government was an enemy of the Governor, who has had cordial relationship with AMATAS.

Anakwe advised the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Market and Wealth Creation, Dr. Christian Madubuko, to go and look into the report of Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up over market crisis in the State in the past "to avoid history repeating itself by abiding by what is in the report".

He warned those behind this forceful ejection to desist from such as they have hidden agenda to plunge the State in an unending crisis.