Wheel Barrow Levy: Prevail on Awogu, Ogbaru Market Stakeholders tell Obiano

Gov Obiano

The Stakeholders of Ogbaru Main Market, in a suburb of Onitsha, Anambra State, have called on Governor Willie Obiano to prevail  on the chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area, Hon. Arinze Awogu, for his incessant attempts to ferment trouble in the market.

The spokesperson for the stakeholders of the  market, Mr. Izuchukwu Okeke,  said this has become imperative to stem the tide of  likely   break down of law and order in the market.
Awogu was alleged to have  led a horde of hoodlums comprising former members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB),to the market last Monday  to commence the collection of wheel barrow tolls, which the traders vehemently refused.

He said the chairman and his thugs were accompanied by one Onyeka Chiakpari, who adds Obiano to his surname to instil fear on people because he hails from Aguleri, but not related with the Governor.



He alleged the thugs had started collecting the toll from three women, who the thugs  carted away their wares  and money, with people scampering for safety.

Although, the market leadership called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Okpoko, Mr. Onyeka Adinuba,  but his action was not encouraging, hence the invitation of  soldiers from 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha.

The soldiers said,Okeke, later arrested seven of the hoodlums with their charms and machetes and were taken to Okpoko Police Station, where they were allegedly  immediately released without subjecting them to thorough interview or investigation, inspite of of the magnitude of their offence in one of the biggest markets in the State.

Okeke warned that the Governor should not allow  people to destroy his relationship with traders and all he has built in Anamtbra State, stressing that the Governor had since banned wheel barrow levy in Anamtbra markets.

"The Governor should not allow his surname to be used to perpetuate evil. The Goverernor's brothers are peaceful. He doesn't have touts as brothers"he said.

One of the elders in the market, Sebestine Uweodina, said Ogbaru market has gone through a lot in the hands of Dr. Christian Madubuko ,  Arinze and Onyeka in the recent past and should be allowed to rest.

He said " we appeal to the Governor to note that market is very sensitive. If there is any job the Governor wants to be done, the executive was ready to do it and pay the money into Government's coffer.

The Chairman of the market, Chief Nwawuzie, said that his position was to carry out the directive of the Government and that of ASMATA President- General, Chief Ikechukwu Ekwegbalu,.
" I know the Governor will do justice to those things that happened. He has never disappointed traders before" he said.
  He however said that nobody would intimidate them in the market.
But all efforts to get Hon. Awogu on  his cellphone to comment failed as he did not  to pick his calls. He also did not reply all the enquiries sent to him through text messages.