Don’t set Anambra traders on fire, INTERSOCIETY warns Willie Obiano

OWERRI, Anambra, Nigeria – The International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law,( INTERSOCIETY) Anambra State has  warned governor Willie Obiano not  to  go ahead with  the planned imposition of government appointed caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the Anambra Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, (AMATAS).

The group in a letter  to the governor through the Commissioner for Commerce, Trade, Mr. Christian Madubuko jointly signed by board chairman,   Emeka Umeagbalasi, Head, Civil Liberties & Rule of Law ,     Barr. Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Head, Democracy & Good Governance Barr. Chinwe Umeche, and Head, Campaign & Publicity Barr. Chidimma Evan Udegbunam for Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) urged the governor not to impose a caretaker committee on traders, as it will set the state on fire.

According to the groups, any imposition of caretaker committee would set the Anambra markets  association on fire and goverment may not easily control the outcome of imposition. The group said given the feelers from markets today, the 72 associations  that constitute  AMATAS have rejected the the plans of caretaker committee and were ready for election.

“The planned imposition by the State Government of a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the state market association is a time bomb awaiting to happen and it  must be avoided” it stated.

Intersociety aligned itself with the 72 registered market associations under AMATAS that passed a resolution  calling for the AMATAS election to be conducted as scheduled. The  group said, AMATAS in the joint resolution had rejected in totality the planned imposition of a caretaker committee as the next AMATAS leadership and that their wishes must be respected.

” AMATAS is an umbrella Market Association for all recognized markets in Anambra State. Presently, the mother market association operates with 72 registered markets and their associations. The 72 registered markets are drawn from central market associations with hundreds of mini markets and their associations spread across the State. 

Elections into AMATAS leadership positions are conducted using a college of electors, comprising chairman and secretary of each of the 72 registered markets with three other delegates drawn from each of the 72 markets; numbering 360 electoral college delegates. It is from the college of electors that the new President General of AMATAS and other officers are elected to serve for four years, renewable for another and final four years.

Accordingly, we have it on good authority that procedures for the election have been put in place and processes advanced; with time, venue and date of the poll fixed; only for some people with vested interests to turn around and start agitation for cancellation of the poll and imposition of a caretaker committee.  Critics and close sources have pointed accusing fingers at the direction of some political appointees and associates of  the governor” it stated.

According to the group, it is despicable and condemnable for a group of people in this democratic era to be recruited and used as anti democratic forces; by selfishly opposing a clearly scheduled election. Intersociety added that the present AMATAS leadership, headed by Mr. Okwudiri Ezenwakwo will expire this June ,with fresh election scheduled to hold on 5th of the  month, urging that the election go ahead to produce leaders.

The group lamented that despite the readiness and willingness of the contestants and the college of electors to submit themselves for the election or participate in same, forces loyal to or fronted by some political appointees or associates of the present administration are bent on discontinuing with the electoral arrangements, rather preferring a caretaker committee arrangement.

“We also called for institutionalization of democratic process in the entire markets in the state and total discontinuation of imposition of caretaker committees in the market associations which elected tenures have expired or are very close to expiration” it said.