Crisis rocks Anambra market leadership as President-General sacks 1st, 2nd vice-presidents, others

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By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

The crisis rocking the leadership of the umbrella market association in Anambra State, the Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), has led to the sack of the First and Second Vice-Presidents of the association.

The zonal chairmen of Idemili and Ogbaru zones Chief Emmanuel Obiagwu and Ndubuisi Ochiogu were also sacked in the shake up announced by the President General of ASMATA, Chief Humphery Anuna Friday during their meeting.

David Obidike, the chairman of APGA in Ogbaru market was appointed to replace Ochiogu, while Oniagwu who was said the leader of those asking for the outster of Anuna was replaced by Philip Nwosu.

According to a source close to the meeting both the Second Vice-president, Chunedu Ekwulugo, representing Awka Zone and the First Vice-President representing Nnewi zone, were sacked because of their involvement in the petition to the Governor, urging him to sack the PG and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market, Chief Evaristus Ubah, due their incompetence.

They were said to have warned the Governor that the continued stay of these aides would constitue hindrance to his second term ambition.

But Governor Soludo was said to have sent the petition to Ubah who in turn sent it to Anuna. Anuna then wielded the big stick and sacked the duo and others suspected to have hand in the petition.

However in a swift reaction, the chairman of Soludo Support Group (SSG) in Ogbaru Main Market, where Chief Ochiogu holds sway as the President of the Caretaker Committe of the Market, Chief Buknor Agu, condemned the dropping of Ochiogu who he described as a major financier of APGA in Ogbaru Local Government and the State generally.

He said that the dropping of Ochiogu as the chairman of Ogbaru zone of ASMATA amount to destroying the very structure that would help bring Soludo back for second term.
He asked Governor Soludo to prevail on Chief Anuna not to scatter the market which would pose a cog to his 2025 Second term agenda.

Traders have also questioned the powers of Chief Anuna to sack his colleagues in ASMATA when he did not abinitio appoint them.