By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Mixed reactions have continued to trail the dissolution of caretaker committee leaderships of 32 markets in Anambra State by governor Charles Soludo.
Soludo had through a statement signed by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Obinna Ngonadi, dissolved all the caretaker leaderships constituted for 30 markets in the state and the two recently elected markets executives under the administration of former governor Willie Obiano.
The government in the statement dated April 28, explained that the decision was aimed at repositioning the markets, adding that new caretaker committees would be appointed to replace them respectively from May 12, 2022 till around March or May 2023 which it had planned to conduct elections.
The development had been welcomed with divergent opinions as some stakeholders welcomed and prayed the governor to quickly fill the vacant offices for effective running of their market affairs, while others kicked, and implored the government to retain the existing caretaker structures pending when the government was prepared to conduct an election.
The Chairman of Ogbaru relief market, Chief Ndubisi Ochuogu, whose election was conducted in January 2022, expressed surprise over the development, noting that their elections were respectively supervised the ministry of commerce and industry, and had not been challenged by any of the contestants.
Also speaking, the President of Ose Okwuodu Market, Chief Anthony Onwuejiaka Ezechukwu, said the election that produced him on February 3, 2022 was free and fair, and had not also been contested against in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Onwuetiaka, whose group had equally protested against the anomaly before the State government, explained that after reading the content on social media, his executive contacted the commissioner to find out why their leadership which was to last for three years would be dissolved for no cogent reason, and the commissioner said it was due to several petitions.
"I requested for copies of the petitions. The Honourable Commissioner could not provide any. I asked him why? He said may be the aggrieved parties petitioned the governor directly. That is why we are here to tell our governor that we have no issue in the market about the election. We don't also need any caretaker committee. We are with the government and ever ready to discuss and partner them," he stated.
At Grains Seed Dealers Association (GSDA) and market Obosi, another affected market, the development had led to dissolution of the caretaker committee leadership constituted in the market since May, 2021, with their stakeholders divided over who to support.
A- 82 year old female trader at GSDA, Mrs Josephine Obioma Chukwu and about 35 other stakeholders at a meeting held in the market, passed a confidence vote on Prince Charles Ikegwuonu led committee, arguing that their tenure should be extended to enable them complete what they described as their good works.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of Grain Seed Dealers Association, Ichie Sir Marcel Okpala, during the meeting added that Prince Ikegwuonu had since his appointment on May 2, 2021 entrenched peace and streghtened their unity, increased their revenue generations, as well as provided them with various infrastructural development.
On his part, Mr Damian Nwana, assured the State Government of unflinching support of the market to his administration, even as the government was free to investigate them if in doubt of their loyalty.
Prince Charles Ikegwuonu, had during the meeting which he said was convoked to inform the market that his committee had been dissolved, thanked the Anambra State government for an opportunity given to him and his executive to serve, assuring that he would do more if retained.
However, the immediate past Chairman of the market, Mr Godwin Okonkwo, said they would gladly welcome an entirely new caretaker leadership as Ikegwuonu committee remained dissolved for reasons best known to the government.
Also a petition addressed to the commissioner for Commerce and Industry, and signed by three former executive leaders of the market, Mr Chuks Chukwu, Chima Ezenduka and Thomas Egbe, hailed the dissolution, stressing that it would bring lasting peace to the market.
According to the petition, "We still reinstate our prayer that Mr Charles Ikegwuonu be stopped from taking part in the leadership of our association and that the people that will run the association in line with the provisions of the Constitution be appointed. May we register the assurances of our warmest regards to you sir and to the ministry of commerce and industry, Anambra State."
Corraborating the petition, two former executives of the market, Mr Joseph Oguh and Mr Venatus Okolie stressed that only the friend of the embattled Ikegwuonu were in support of his retention, because according to them, majority believed he had no business of leading them again since his administration did not strictly adhered to their constitution.