Onitsha drug market : Group begs Soludo to sack chairman

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

Concerned and Genuine members of Ogbogwu market, Bridgehead, Onitsha in Anambra State Monday called on governor Chukwuma Soludo to immediately sack the  chairman of Onitsha Drug market/Anambra State Revenue Collection Committee (CTC), Mr. Chukwuleta Ndubuisi.

Speaking to newsmen in Onitsha, the group Coordinator, Emmanuel Ozoemenam,  said the majority of the traders demanded  immediate election of new executive that would take over from Chikwulota led CTC.

He dismissed the media reports some days ago credited to Chikwulota, alleging that drug fakers have returned to the market so soon after NAFDAC reopened the market.

Ozoemenam said what actually happened last Wednesday was that some people agitating for an immediate election of new executive in the market insisted that they would not participate in the usual first Wednesdays of the month prayer conducted by the evangelism team of the market.

He said: “The media report that fake drug dealers  have returned to the market was blatant lies.The people were the people agitating for an election. What happened in the market last February was because we don’t have good leadership”.Continuing the Coordinator said: 

“Government should allow us to have our own elected chairman, who is answerable to us, not to the Government, who we can put our trust in  as our leader, who will be directing the affairs of the market. 

He will be answerable to NAFDAC. That was the basis of our agitation”. Ozoemenam said for Chikwulota to go about and were telling people they were  fake dealers ” is a blatant lie”.

“I don’t deal on fake drugs.We don’t support those who deal on fake drugs. Those who deal with fake are murderers, killers.We don’t support it.Those who support it are killers” he said.

The Coordinator said that what happened between them and Chukwolota last Wednesday was that he went to organise prayer  but some group of people in the market said no to it.

They rather, he said, wanted their shops opened so that those who wanted to do their businesses would continue, while those who wanted to carry on with prayer should go to prayer ground and continue with prayer.

Unfortunately, said Ozoemenam, Chikwulota went and brought local vigilant group, Ocha Brigade and other security outfits including the Army who forced people to close their shops and it prompted the traders, to start chanting, “Chikwulota, thief”.

” Our demand is clear, he should step down from the seat for us to have an elected chairman” he said.

Another demand, he said, was that prayers should be regulated since there is freedom of association and religion.

“But: “we are against those doing their businesses fighting against those doing their prayer.And those praying, fighting against those doing their prayer . That is our demand. We need justice, nothing but justice”, they posited.