The Anambra Traders’ Forum (ATF), has called on Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State to reverse with immediate effect the appointment of Chief Humphrey Anuna (Onwa na Oraeri) as the President-General of traders in the State.
The traders’ group also called on the Governor to put machinery in motion for the entire traders in Anambra State to elect their central leadership, not influenced by anyone.
This central leadership, said the Traders’ Forum in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Tony Eze, should in turn begin the process of democratising all the markets in the State instead of institutionalising despotic leadership
These steps, they said, have become imperative to extricate traders from the autocratic hold of the State Government and its avaricious officials.
Against this backdrop, the group strongly condemned the imposition of a Caretaker Committee on the apex body of Anambra traders in the State.
ATF said they were even particularly against the appointment of Chief Anuna, popularly called Onwa Oraeri who they said is not a trader in any market in the State, since he does not have any shop anywhere in any market.
The Traders’ Forum said Chief Anuna was part of the corruption in Anambra State Market especially Bridgehead Market where he was part of some individuals with the help of the former president Sunday mobilize diverted millions of naira accruing to the state from STALLAGE FEES N4, 800/FULL SHOP
SANITATION LEVY: N4,800.
TRADERS TAX: N3,000.
CAPITATION: N500
TOTAL N12,100. and therefore has no moral standing to preside over Anambra State markets if not only because he is from Old Aguata Union.
The group said that they have noted with utter disappointment the nepotic appointments of his kith and his kin as Caretaker Committee into different markets in the State by the Governor even those who are not morally and intellectually qualified for such positions.
Traders’ Forum expressed surprise that instead of Soludo should be deepening democracy, he was busy instituting autocracy in the appointments of Caretaker Committees in different markets ASMATA in the state.
The market group, therefore, urged Governor Soludo to apart from dropping Chief Anuna as ASMATA President-General, he should also affect his arrest and accelerate the democratisation of all the market leaders in the State in line with Nigeria’s current democratic dispensation which he is a great beneficiary, ATF urged the Soludo