Enemies By Design: How The US And USSR Shaped Each Other's Identity

- Say Those Calling for Their Sack Are Those Not Allowed to Cause Crisis in Markets

By Chukwudi Ebele

It has been revealed that individuals who were stopped from diverting Anambra State Government market revenue into their private pockets, and from instigating crises in markets, are responsible for the publications calling for the removal of the President General (PG) of the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders' Association (ASMATA), Chief Humphrey Anuna.

These same individuals are also behind the calls for the dismissal of the Special Adviser (SPAD) to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Trade and Markets, Hon. Evarist Uba.

A chieftain of Ochanja Market, Chief Nwabueze Umeh (Ofiaafuluego), along with several others from other major markets, has passed a vote of confidence on the duo, stating that the entire markets in Anambra State have not experienced the level of peace, compliance with government policies, and cooperation on internally generated revenue (IGR) as seen under the current market administration, spearheaded by Chief Anuna and Hon. Uba on behalf of the State Government.

According to Nwabueze, "I read the publication online, and it is propaganda written by self-centered individuals. Those calling for the sack of the PG and SPAD are talking nonsense. I am a stakeholder in the market, and I give SPAD and PG my vote of confidence."

He further added, "Anyone who is power-hungry could be responsible for such a publication against SPAD and the ASMATA PG because they want power by all means, and such individuals will do anything to get it."

He also dismissed the name in the publication, claiming to be a concerned trader in Ochanja Market, as unknown to anyone.

When asked about rumors that the Ochanja Market Caretaker Chairman, Chief Bonaventure Muo, was among those who initiated the publication to call for the removal of the ASMATA PG and SPAD, Chief Umeh said he could not confirm Muo’s involvement but suggested that the Muo he knows was capable of such actions due to previous negative experiences of blackmail.

"Muo has been blackmailing me, accusing me of embezzling market funds and setting fire to the fuel tanker that caused the fire disaster in Ochanja Market. After making such grievous allegations, he would still come and apologize. One who blackmails is capable of such a publication against the ASMATA PG and SPAD. There is no achievement under Muo's leadership, only problems. For one year, there was no power supply in Ochanja Market," Umeh alleged.

Nwabueze further advised the ASMATA PG to visit markets regularly to hear traders’ opinions and use his position to caution caretaker chairmen who may be erring or overbearing, to set an example for other market leaders.

In a swift reaction, Chief Bonaventure Muo of Ochanja Market stated, "They are the opposition we have in our market. They even tell traders not to pay the new ₦30,000 stallage levy, which is why we are behind other markets like Bridgehead, Ogbogwu, Main Market, and others."

"It is the opposition that is calling for a market election. They criticize every government policy in markets. We are the caretaker committee members, and they are indirectly asking the government to sack us. When they were in power, they opposed government policies and programs to divert government revenue. We don’t have any problem with the ASMATA PG and SPAD. The duo stopped them from causing market crises and diverting government revenue to private pockets, which prompted their publication against the PG and SPAD," Muo disclosed.

In a related development, five Onitsha Main Market line chairmen, led by a former Zone 1 chairman, Hon. Gibson I. Okafor (a.k.a. Igwe Bida), passed a vote of confidence on the ASMATA PG and SPAD, praising the duo for their integrity and professionalism in managing Anambra markets without fear or favor.

They stated that those calling for their removal were individuals not given the opportunity to collect illegal levies, as Governor Soludo is against multiple levies and the collection of revenue in cash. They unanimously accused the current caretaker committee chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Chief Innocent Ezeoha, of being the mastermind behind the call for the sack publication.

To support their claim, they cited an instance where SPAD stopped Ezeoha from collecting a ₦2,000 enumeration levy from traders and another attempt to collect ₦3,000 from each trader for the renovation of the market’s white house secretariat, asserting that Ezeoha orchestrated the publication in retaliation against SPAD.

The line chairmen in attendance included Aloysius Maduegbunam, chairman of Police Line; John Paul Udoji, chairman of Optical Line; Obidike, chairman of Lucky Line; and a stakeholder, Onyekachi Francis.

In their separate speeches, they said, "Ezeoha collaborated with his associates to publish that piece. Those behind the publication, who claim to control the market, do not actually control it. We, the line chairmen and secretaries, control the markets. Traders are known for gossip, and SPAD and the ASMATA PG are doing well. The duo cannot be bought with money, which is why they are the targets of such fallacious publications."

On the call for a market election, they said, "Whether elected or appointed, what we want is good leadership. Onitsha Main Market has no good leadership, and we want the government to sack the current leadership. Ezeoha runs a sole administration and should learn to follow the market's rules and regulations. In fact, he is the worst chairman so far in the main market," they added.

When contacted for a response, the Main Market chairman, Ezeoha, denied all the allegations, stating that Okafor and his team are the main problems of the Onitsha Main Market and should be held responsible for the publication.

"They have a major sponsor known as 'Ken Bigger,' and they are destabilizing the market to remove me. They published the article calling for the removal of SPAD and the ASMATA PG. I cannot accuse the government that I serve."

"Okafor, who is called Igwe Bida, vowed during our meeting that if I am not removed, he will ensure SPAD and the PG are sacked. It is on record. They are the ones fighting the government, opposing its policies and programs, and calling for elections instead of a caretaker arrangement."

"They attack me because I refuse to join them in attacking the government. Regarding the ₦2,000 enumeration levy, the government is aware of it through SPAD, and SPAD confirmed its legality, but they did not relay this to the traders. Instead, they presented a different story," Ezeoha disclosed.

A chieftain at Ogbaru Relief Market, Chief David Obidike, also reacted to the publication, stating that "SPAD and the ASMATA PG have done nothing wrong in piloting the affairs of traders that would warrant such a publication. I was shocked when I saw the publication online because Governor Soludo, through these two individuals, has restored the lost glory of markets in the state."

"We are on the ground to ensure Soludo is returned for a second term, and he is unstoppable due to his gigantic strides in the state. Enemies are at work, but it will not succeed. Conducting a market election is good, but it should be done at a convenient time by the State Government," he concluded.