The Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) has urged traders who transact business in various Shopping Plazas in Anambra State to defy the purported fear of the unknown gunmen or hoodlums and resume their normal businesses on Mondays.
Speaking during a meeting with Shopping plazas Chairmen and Secretaries at Onitsha on Monday, the President General ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna (Onwa Oraeri) reminded the Plaza executives on the huge losses being incurred by both individuals and government because of no full business activities every Monday in Anambra and the entire South East.
He said that Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, who has the interest of Ndi Anambra at heart, has been using taxpayers' money judiciously, having almost completed about 400km of roads, among other interventions and projects.
"Soludo is working. The last time Soludo empowered youths, many traders in the market benefited, but people from the plaza could not submit names because you were secluding yourselves.
"Let us unite, sit up, and support Soludo's government because he is a good and very intelligent man who has the interest of the masses.
"As leaders, let us stop blaming Tinubu, dollars, or anybody for the current hardship. What will help fight hunger is us telling ourselves the truth.
"Let the market plazas come out en masse and stop this unnecessary sit-at-home. People just create fear, and fear is of the devil.
"His Excellency hosted a meeting for market leaders and the Joint Task force comprising the Military, police, and AVS, and they promised to patrol every Monday near the markets and plazas in case of any eventuality.
"Last Monday, the JTF did not patrol, and I reported them to His Excellency, but this Monday, they patrolled and have decided to keep to the arrangements. I am happy with them.
"So, you leaders should organize yourselves under one umbrella and select a 7-Man committee that will be part of ASMATA leadership meetings so that traders doing business in plazas all over the state can enjoy other privileges, including defending yourselves against multiple taxation from illegal revenue contractors and attracting funds for projects or programs like football competitions.
"Plazas are incorporated in the ASMATA constitution, and nobody will take you seriously if you put up any official document without ASMATA letterheaded paper.
"Also, remember never to remit any revenue to even me or anyone in cash because all payments are done through the bank with the ANSSID number generated for your own plaza," said Anuna.
Moreover, Chief Anuna, with the support of plaza executives present, appointed the duo of Engr Samuel Nwankwo, Manager of Emeka Offor plaza, and Mr. Chris Nwadilibe of the Young Shall Grow plaza to organize a meeting for all the plazas from major cities in Anambra as soon as possible for further information.
Earlier during the interactive session, Mr. Chinedu Udemba of Atlantic plaza Nkpor, Simon Onwe of Ike Dunukofia plaza, and Afam Nwagu of Collymart plaza, after expressing the fear of endangering the lives of the traders, said that plaza owners were also afraid of their plaza being burnt down by hoodlums.
They thanked the ASMATA PG for extending the opportunity for plaza traders to participate in ASMATA affairs and to defend the plazas from intimidation and exploitation, saying that this was the first of its kind.
According to Engr Samuel Nwankwo of Emeka Offor plaza, 50 percent of plaza traders are ready to open for businesses on Mondays, but they need to be convinced that the government will provide adequate security both at the markets, plazas, and roads leading from residential buildings to the plazas.
Nwankwo further requested the ASMATA constitution and guidelines to enable plaza traders to participate fully in ASMATA affairs, urging the PG to ensure that plaza traders have an enabling environment for business without interference from touts with many so-called authorizations from both LG Secretariat and the State Government.
Moreover, Ochiagha Chukwunonso of Bethel plaza Niger Street, Onitsha, eulogized Soludo for channeling taxpayers’ money into visible projects like the newly constructed road network within Fegge Onitsha.
Instead of increasing the number of security agents in the State, which may scare citizens from going about their normal businesses, Sit At Home quickly suggested that all the South Eastern Governors should go together to Aso Rock, Abuja, and demand the unconditional release of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
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