Onitsha South Council Boss Lady Ann Chukwuneke Escapes Lynching By Protesters Over De-congestion, 5 Still In Hospital

                    

Contrary to insinuations in some National Dailies that over 50 persons sustained various degrees of injuries while about 20 shops were destroyed, following a clash between the Onitsha South Local Government Area Chairman, Lady Ann Chukwuneke and traders at the Millennium Merchants and Importers Association Markets, Onitsha, Anambra State, the Council boss, yesterday, explained her ordeal in the hands of the traders she described as recalcitrant who attacked her while trying to decongest the market.

The Council Chairman, who spoke to a select journalists shortly after she was discharged from the hospital thanked God for saving her life and expressed shock that the traders who she said were being sponsored by her opponents shattered her vehicle with stones, broken bottles and other dangerous weapons, even as she noted that about 5 Local Government staff that accompanied her to the market decongestion are right now, still in the hospital.
“I would have been dead by now if not my oddly and one other police officer who accompanied us to the market. I only went to the market with my PA, two police officers and the Supervisory Councilor for works in the Local government. I am very surprised that the media were qoating over 500 persons, including revenue collectors and MASSOB members”
Lady Chukwuneke also urged journalist to always investigate any matter before publication to avoid misleading the public.
She added that “I have begged them severally to stop trading on the road but if you go there now, you will see vehicles, tri-cycles, motorcycle, heavy duty lorries parked along the road, thereby obstructing free human and vehicular movement. Others in the market cooperated but at Sokoto road, their Vice chairman, Prince Peter Okoye and his men blocked the street with chain and turned me back. They started throwing stone and sachet water on me when I quickly rushed into my car.
She also debunked insinuations that she imposed any levy on the traders saying that she has not in any way asked the traders to pay any levy since she came to power.
“I am in that position to effect a positive change and to save the masses and not to make money because God has made me rich before vying for the position”
On the right of the Local Government to give orders in the market, the council boss cited the  2011 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended) and the Anambra State constitution No. ANHA/Law/2012/03 which states that construction and maintenance of roads, streets and markets are the duties of the local Government and called on the traders to be law abiding.
At the Onitsha Area command, the vandalised local Government vehicle was spotted but the Area commander, Mr. Benjamin Wordu declined to comments on the matter and refereed this reporter to PPRO, Anambra state.
The chairman of the market, Mr. Valentine Ezechukwu said the council boss, Lady Ann Nwachukwu  allegedly stormed the market with over 100 youths to collect revenue from the traders and at the same time clamp down on street trading in the area and wondered why the council boss should be demanding the sum of N50,000 per shop, an action he described as uncalled for, adding that they had earlier discussed with the chairman on the way forward for the market and wondered why she stormed the market without notice.