Ochanja Market Traders Faction Protest Against Leadership, Demands Conduct of Election

CHIDIEBELE CY OBIKA 

Some traders of Ochanja Central Market, Onitsha South Council Area, Anambra State, yesterday protested against the incumbent executive of their market.

The traders noted that the tenure of office of the current leadership of the market will expire on March 12th this year and called on the government to conduct election for the market. Their demands and complaints were conveyed by Mr. Oliver Nwankwo, an Adviser and Leader of stakeholders in the market.

Responding, the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Hon. Uchenna Okafor Wiper, who met and addressed them at the Government House, Awka, faulted some of their actions. He blamed them for engaging in protest as against interfacing with the ministry and government.

Hon. Okafor further opined that the protesters were wrong for engaging in the act when they themselves knew that the tenure of the present executive was yet to elapse. He assured them that he would visit the market soonest to ascertain the genuineness of their claims. 

The Commissioner reminded the traders that on 16th October, 2019, the market was gutted by fire which killed some persons and razed shops, wares and others. He further recalled that Governor Willie Obiano spent about N100m to compensate and resettle about 726 victims of that market and as such should not have elicited such campaigns.

In conclusion, he noted that government is going into every market collecting monies owed the state by traders and hopes that the protesters are not part of IGR defaulters. 

Mrs. Okafor, a trader in the market thanked the Commissioner for his humane leadership of the Ministry and the manner with which he addressed them.