By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha
Fresh tension is mounting at General Goods Dealers Market, Kano/Okwe Streets near Onitsha Main Market over plan by some traders led by the chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Barthlomew Ugwudike, to illegally instal an executive of the market.
Chief Ugwudike had unilaterally announced Thursday morning that the BoT would set up a Caretaker Committee contrary to the constitution of the market, the judgment of Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha and the procedure for setting up of a new Executive.
The Anambra State High Court had in a judgment directed that the tenure of the market had expired and the chairman, Mr. Nonso Ihejiagwa, should organise election for a new executive.
Consequently, the chairman, Mr Ihiejiagwa wrote to the chairman of Onitsha zone of Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), Chief Eric Uwaoma, intimating him of the urgent need to conduct election in the market.
But Ugwudike this morning announced that the BoT would conduct the election, which according to Chief Uwaoma was null, void and of no effect because the procedure was not followed.
Chief Uwaoma, who is also the chairman of Onitsha South Shop Owners, said that they have to intimate the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market, Chief Evaristus Uba, who would approve the exercise.
He also said that there is a standing instruction on all the markets in the State whose tenure of executives have expired to put the conduct of election on hold until after November 8, 2025 election.
Chief Uwaoma said the announcement by Chief Ugwudike did not only fall short of the procedure but was illegal and therefore a nullity because he does not have the powers to conduct the election.
When Chief Ugwudike was contacted on his cellphone to get his own side of the story, it was ringing engaged.
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