Market leader removed in Anambra over corruption
By Sunny A. Ijomah
The Anambra State Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Wealth Creation, Dr. Christian Madubuko, has carried out his threat to remove any erring and corrupt market leader in the State.
Dr. Madubuko acting true to his threat has removed the Chairman of Ogbaru Main Market, Chief Victor Nwawuzie for alleged corruption.
Chief Nwawuzie who was re-arrested last week after his initial arrest some few weeks ago was said have been forced to resign after several days in detention room of the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS).
His Vice-Chairman, Mr. Chinedu Ejezie was said to have since assumed office in acting capacity to complete Nwawuzie’s tenure until when the next election will take place sometime next year.
It was not clear if Nwawuzie will be charged to Court for embezzling Government money as threatened by the Commissioner.
All efforts to get the Commissioner and Nwawuzie to comment on the matter failed as none of them picked their calls.
However, a group under the auspices of Ogbaru Main Market Elders Forum (OMMEF) has lauded the Anambra State Government for removing the former chairman for alleged corruption.
“We thank the Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and his Commissioner for taking a decisive and an all inclusive decision to remove Nwawuzie said the group in a statement signed by their Chairman, Chief Nnamdi Okonkwo.
And in removing him, said the Forum, the Commissioner adopted democratic culture of not installing a Caretaker Committee, instead appointed his Vice, Ejezie to succeed the former chairman.
The Government, they said, rejected the demands by some interest groups to set up a Caretaker to complete the remaining one year and some few months of Nwawuzie’s tenure”
The group however urged the new chairman to form an all-inclusive Government to avoid what happened to his predecessor.
They thanked the President General of Amalgamated Market Traders Association of Anambra State (AMATAS), Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, for his doggedness and transparency in his administration, urging him to at all times promote peace among traders especially now that his tenure is coming to an end.
The Group said those values and norms he has enunciated over time during his tenure should be transmitted to a credible successor that can lead the traders in line with their construction.