By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha
The Chairman of Onitsha Drug (Ogbogwu) Market, Bridgehead, Onitsha in Anambra State, Chief Chukwuleta Ndubuisi, has narrated how some traders who style themselves as opposition early morning held him hostage for about fours before the Onitsha Area Commander came to his rescue.
The traders were however said to be protesting the arrest of one of them Uche Obiorah, and his wife, by the Police from zone 13 Ukpo.
They demanded for their immediate release and sack of the Chairman for his high-handedness and failure to render account of his steward to the traders.
But Ndubuisi who told his ordeal to newsmen said: “A trader in the market called me and told me that his shop was locked up by the taskforce and I told him I am on my way to the market to know why they should lock up his shop. On arrival at the market I was told that some traders who I have been fighting for dealing in fake/counterfeit drugs were protesting and vowed to kill me if they see me.
“As I was approaching my office I heard them shouting Ndubuisi is a thief, and I took the back door to the upstairs because they locked the main gate. As I was climbing the stairs, from the back door, one of them saw me and shouted he has come and rushed to hold me but withdrew to call others.
“They then locked the back door, protesting and ringing bell that I must remain hostage until I release their member and wife I Kidnapped”.
He said they did not allow his treasurer, secretary and others to come to the office as they locked everywhere, saying that for more than four hours he was held hostage until the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Chidi Nzota, came to rescue him.
He said these were just few traders: “some of them don’t even have anything doing in the Market,order than to foment trouble because I am fighting them for dealing on fake drugs”.
Ndubuisi said since NAFDAC shut the market for about three months ago over fakery these people have intensified their war against him, making frivolous and unsubstantiated allegations to tarnish his image.
But what they want, said the chairman, is for him to be removed from the seat so that they would continue with dealing on fake drugs.
He said these people doing all these things: “want me to respond so that there would be clash and blood shed but they would not succeed”.
Chukwuleta said penultimate Wednesday they came and disrupted the prayer they started in the market 28 years ago, saying that they don’t want prayer again in the market.
If they don’t want prayer, said the chairman, they should come to the general meeting and canvass it,if they carry the day we would stop it.
” They threatened to strip me naked. They brought all the touts in the market, people doing nothing to join them and those dealing on fake to call me thief.They want to discredit my government but they cannot succeed.They want me to step down” he said.
The chairman said some people wanted to intervene to bring peace but I told them to ask those people what was my offence.
“They said there will be no peace, that the only peace is for me to step down. That Government should come and conduct election. I have no problem with that but Government has not conducted election in any market in Anambra State. Ogbogwu will not be different. I didn’t appoint myself.They just want anarchy in the market but they have failed” Chukwuleta said.
The leader of the Justice for the traders in Ogbogwu Market Bridgehead, Chibueze Ifejiogor, denied all the allegations leveled against the group by Ndubuisi, stating that they only blocked the gate.
He said their grievances were that Ndubuisi made the Police to arrest their member, Uche Obiorah and his wife because he (Ndubuisi) went to their shop to demand for payment of a levy which the wife refused, telling them that it was illegal.
Chief Ifejiofor who was flanked by Stephen Elum, Emeka and other members of the group said: “We are the members of ‘Justice for Ogbogwu,’ Ndubuisi refused to render account of his stewardship since he assumed office. He has continued to extort us, demanding various levies, ranging from transformer levy, security levy” among others.
He accused the the chairman of boasting that Governor Soludo is his brother and that no amount of agitation can make the Governor to sack him.
The Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Nzota, warned both parties of the dire consequences of breaching the peace in the market
He said: “I will not tolerate violence. For about seven months I was transferred to this place, we have worked hard to ensure that peace was restored in Onitsha and anybody who wants to breach the peace will be dealt with”
He continued: “We will not tolerate breach of the law, there should not be any illegal gathering and for any campaign or activities you should inform the police for approval and protection. Those who foment trouble will be dealt with, we want peace in this market. You can’t remove the market chairman by force, there are procedures. The court is also there for you to seek redress if you feel you are being victimized”.
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