Allow Us to Elect Our Leaders, Traders Tell Gov Obi
Traders in Anambra State, under the auspices of Anambra State Market Elders Forum (ASMEF), are set to battle the Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, over his refusal to conduct election in various markets in the state. The traders, who were selected from virtually all the major markets in the state, are protesting the imposition of leaders on them by the government since 2002. In a press briefing attended by past market leaders in the state, they stated that the Anambra State Government through the governor's special assistant on parks and markets, Chief Silva Nwobu-Alor, has deliberately postponed elections in various markets throughout the state.

The group stated that taking into cognizance the fact that Gov. Obi was a product of democracy and rule of law, he should as well allow traders in Anambra State enjoy that same democracy. They, however, called on the Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, to direct his special assistant on parks and markets, Chief Silva Nwobu-Alor, to conduct a free and fair elections or traders would have no other option than to organize their own elections in all the markets where democratically elected leaders are yet to emerge within two weeks.

Anambra traders who expressed their displeasure at frequent postponement suffered so far in the elections vowed to resist any form of imposition of leaders on them as is presently being experienced in major markets in the state; adding that caretaker committees were only accountable to the government that appointed them and would always work in tandem with their god-fathers to the detriment of traders. While vowing to resist any form of imposition on them, the chairman, Anambra State Market Elders Forum (ASMEF), Chief Okwudili E z e n w a n k w o (Ewepudike), accused the state government of creating disaffection among traders by appointing some of them into market caretaker committees.

He called on the state government to live up to its promise of organizing credible elections in major markets of the state within three months as reflected in their letter to traders of the state dated 7th April, 2008 which according to the group has expired since July this year. He said that all that traders were asking for is elections and nothing more and accused the state governor, Mr. Obi, of undermining the principles of democracy which he is presently enjoying as governor of the state. Making his contribution, one of the aggrieved traders and vice chairman of the group, Chief Obi Egbuna, accused Chief Nwobu-Alor of deceit in the conduct of elections which he said was long overdue.

Chief Egbuna, a one time chairman of Onitsha main market criticized Gov. Obi for remaining quiet and indifferent in a matter that deserves urgent attention and feigning ignorance of the danger inherent in the present scenario. In his assertion, a human right activist and publicity secretary of the organization, Mr. Uzor A. Uzor, advocated proper investigation of Nwobu-Alor and various market caretaker committees for their crime against traders in the state and urged the state governor, Mr. Peter Obi, to tender an unreserved apology to traders for deceiving them for too long.
Afam Aminu Chimezie, Onitsha

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