Anambra Government, Market Leaders Disown Ozigbo Board at Head Bridge Onitsha, Accuse him of causing confusion

Anambra state Government has decried the activities of  one Chief  R.O Ozigbo at the Bridgehead Market, Onitsha which has denied the state government its internally generated revenue from the market.

The Anambra state commissioner of Trade and Commerce Ifeatu C. Onejeme who made the disclosure regretted the conduct of Ozigbo and his co travelers at the Head Bridge.

He warned that enough leniency has been tolerated by the state government as it would deal decisively with Ozigbo and his cohorts if they do not desist from depriving the state of its revenue.

He said if allowed to continue the sabotaging activities of Ozigbo would create confusion and chaos at the Bridgehead market and warned against anybody or group that will provoke the peace now obtainable in the marker.

Onojeme’s warning www.odogwublog.com reports is coming on the heels of the apparent leadership tussle bedeviling the state government to inaugurate a caretaker committee for the Bridge Head Market Traders Association Onitsha, led by Chief Ambrose O. Osakwe to oversee the activities of the market. 

This Osakwe led caretaker committee got a vote of confidence from the traders while they equally passed a vote of no confidence on the Ozigbo led Board of trustees, warning them to desist from entering the market,

 Chief Osakwe in his reaction said it was a welcomed development coming from the traders and added that they have decided not to take laws into their hands but to seek a lawful redress in the law court.

Although efforts to get Chief  R.O Ozigbo was not fruitful but he was quoted as saying that the allegations were empty as his activities were lawful and guided by their constitution to have a Board of trustees which he is chairman. He asked to be given support to operate rather than run him down unnecessarily against the interest of the traders who elected him Board of Trustees Chairman.

He was not picking his calls after he picked the first and dropped suddenly when told who the caller was but was calm.

Meanwhile, the President Anambra state market and Traders Association (ASMATA) Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo supported the stand of the state government that Ozigbo constitutes nuisance in the market and should desist from harassing innocent traders or face their wrath and that of the law.

 He commended the state government for recognizing the Osakwe caretaker committee as a peaceful resolution to the imminent crisis in the market, adding that Osakwe has promised a free, fair and transparent election at the end of their term by January 17, 2015 as contained in their appointment letters before inauguration.

Ezenwankwo commended Osakwe’s quality leadership skills and crisis management as the situation in the Bridgehead market is enough to create crisis in the market but with his disposition no troubles were fomented until government and his leadership intervened.

 He further accused the Ozigbo led group of masterminding the confusion in the market , recalling he had severally warned him (Ozigbo) to stay away from the activities of the association.

He said , “Ambrose Osakwe is the authentic caretaker committee chairman for now, pending when the union will conduct election on January 17, 2015 and that is the only time a new chairman will emerge.
That market is not privately owned by any individual or groups whatsoever but government institution.

He further warned that any trader that makes any payment to such mischievous group is doing that at their own risk as government will not be answerable to such loss.

 www.odogwublog.com recalls that the Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra state commercial hub city was thrown into crisis recently following the emergence of two parallel groups laying claims of being the leadership of the market association.

It was gathered that trouble started when some group imposed levy and  were collecting money from traders in the market even while there is a government appointed caretaker committee that will run the affairs of the union for three months.

Chairman, Bridge Head Market Traders Association Onitsha, Chief Ambrose O. Osakwe, said they had agreement with state government following the appointment as caretaker and that their work is to reconcile various factions/groups under the umbrella market association, to prepare grounds for a successful election before the expiration of our tenure and also to ensure the collection/payment and remittance of all government revenues into the designated accounts of Anambra state in the banks as and when due but a group comprising of Cypril Umeh,Okey Ojimba, Beneth Olisabuike, Chidozie Anizor and Bonaventure Uchegbu  led by one Chief  R.O Ozigbo rebuffed the government arrangement and were parading themselves as the market leaders, causing confusion everywhere in the market."

He further said," this group are been sponsored by those who don't want peace and good work of our amiable governor Chief Willie Obiano. Government appointed me and my committee members when the tenure of the previous caretaker committee expired on July 1,2014. The government through the office of the Honourable commissioner of Trade and Commerce, Hon. Ifeatu C. Onejeme appointed us as the caretaker committee on July 18, 2014.
When our tenure expired on October 17, 2014, Government wrote to us again and renewed our tenure from October 18, 2014 to January 17, 2015 when the election will take place," he said.

Chief Osakwe, further informed that the trouble began when another faction who according him hide under the umbrella of Board of Trustees (BOT) of the association to operate emerged. He said the group also went ahead to fix another date for election of the union when government stipulated election for January 17, 2015.

According to the appointment letter made available to www.odogwublog.com , the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Commerce, Hon. Ifeatu C. Onejeme stated that the appointment was due to the inability of the various mini-unions to conduct elections into the main umbrella of the association.

He further informed that the committee shall be in office for further three (3) months as election comes up on January 17, 2015.

"The state government, acting through this Ministry, reserves the sole right to terminate the tenure of office if this committee is found wanting in the discharge of its responsibilities and to extend its tenure should exigencies so demand".