Crisis: Gov. Soludo’s aide, Uba sacks Anambra market boss over alleged incompetence

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The Special Adviser to governor Chukwuma Soludo on trade and Markets, Evarist Uba has sacked the former chairman of the market, Okechukwu Umeozulu, over alleged incompetence.

He, however, substituted him and his executives with a caretaker committee led by Chidi Emmanuel,

Addressing the traders prior to the inauguration of the Caretaker members, the president general of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, Humphrey Anuna, reminded the committee that there is difference between appointed and elected adding that elected is an executive that stays for four years in office while appointed can be sacked anytime.

He advised the traders especially the committee to be wary of the Vice chairman and secretary of any organization as crises start from them knowingly or unknowingly disclosing that some people thrive in crises and will always look for crises where there is none.

“As traders and human beings you have to choose between good and bad behavior. The new chairman, Ukpaka, is a nice man and is already blessed and that is why you traders gathered here today to pay solidarity to his enthronement as your new chairman.

“The sacked chairman has run away but I know that with Ukpaka the damaged items will be repaired. He has already whispered to me that there is no toilet in the market and that by next week he will use his own money to commence building of toilet facilities in the market,” he stated.

He however, urged the traders not to relent in their support to Soludo who he described as God-sent to better the welfare of the people in the state.

Inaugurating the committee members, the ASMATA second vice Chukwudi Nwankwo, advised them to live by their oath of office adding that they should ensure open door policy in their administration.

Expressing satisfaction with the inauguration, the market patron, Chief Silas Ike, lamented that the sacked market chairman achieved nothing in the market and was never present in the market.

“He works alone and refuses to work with his executives as a team and has no shop in the market. We made the mistake of electing him as chairman, with the appointment of Ukpaka as chairman there is hope now for improvement and repair to damages done by the sacked chairman,” he stated.

Contributing, the market founder and pioneer chairman, Augustine Onyemaechi, lamented that the sacked chairman when he was in power destroyed the little foundation the market had.

“Umeozulu when he came on board as chairman destroyed the little foundation we had in the market. He came for destruction instead of market development and you hardly see him in the market.

“I have told the caretaker committee which I personally nominated, that they should restore the lost glory of the market, ensure truth reigns supreme and have oneness as a tool for peace and progress. They should restructure the abandoned structures in the market,” he advised.

On how to reconcile his legal practice as a lawyer with market affairs he reiterated that, “If not for the good and interest I have for the market having known what we suffered to be in the present market location from Onitsha, I would have abandoned the market for my legal practice.”

Also the secretary of the market, Damian Eziani, in his contribution lamented that successive administrations took the market backwards and called for concerted efforts between the new executive and traders for rapid infrastructural development of the market.

In his post election speech, the newly appointed chairman, Chidi, commended the state government through ASMATA PG and others for finding him worthy to serve as chairman and vowed not to let them down.

The chairman who disclosed that he was not surprised to be appointed as chairman, disclosed that he has before now been eager to make his own contribution towards the development of the market adding that his achievements to the market will speak for him.

“My priority now is to build toilet facilities in the market as there is none since the inception of this market. The cause of lack of development in the market is because leadership was bestowed on a hungry man who is interested only in what he benefits from the market and he doesn’t even have a shop in the market.

“So many things were destroyed by the immediate past administration led by Umeozulu who didn’t even come to the market. He is the chairman, unlike myself that is in the market daily.

“I have taken it as a sacrifice to take the market to the next level and I believe that by the grace of God the burden will not be much for me to carry,” he prayed.

Among those that witnessed the inauguration included, the Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Security Matters, Chinenye Ihenko, his second in Command, Mr Monday Nwokoye, ASMATA PRO, Emeka Unegbu, among others.