By Juliana Nwachukwu
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Hon Chijioke Okpalaugo, has given one month ultimatum to line chairmen of the market who have stayed between 15 to 30 years to conduct election and vacate office, warning that failure to do so would amount to constitution of caretaker committees on those lines.
He gave the warning during the visit of Awgbu Community traders at Onitsha Main Market who stormed the market Secretariat for a courtesy call and to laud Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his appointment.
Hon. Okpalaugo while thanking them for showing brotherly love and support, reiterated that God has given them the opportunity to right the wrong in the market by his appointment and pledged not to disappoint them as he pilots the affairs of the market.
He described Awgbu youths as humble disclosing that in Igbo land Awgbu remains the community where youths learn apprenticeship skill (Igba Boi scheme) before being self employed unlike in other communities where youths go for quick money.
“I will return power to the youths, some people hold main market hostage, that it is their birth right. I have told them that I am giving them one month for any one that has been in leadership for 30 years, 20 years and 15 years to resign that I will conduct election or set up caretaker committee to inject new blood in the market for development.
“Some youths study leadership courses but the old ones in power denied them the opportunity to be in power.I have mandated all of them to conduct election and they are running up and down. Some are begging me to give them up to one month.
“One of them who has been line chairman for 30 years told me that why he is still there is to enable him contest for chairmanship of Onitsha Main Market. Such people are suppose to be fathers, patrons. Soon people will see light in the market by God willing”, he prayed.
Speaking, the chairman of Awgbu Progress Union(APU), Onitsha branch, Chief Charles Okoye, expressed joy with the appointment of their son, Okpalaugo as the Main Market Chairman and commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo also for the appointment of Chief of Staff, Chief Ernest Ezeajughi, one of their sons.
“Okpalaugo will not disappoint, he will provide peace, I trust him. We are here to show solidarity and support to our son. With Okpalaugo and Chief of Staff, Ezeajughi, what is meant for Awgbu community will get to us,” he stated.
Contributing, a chieftain in Awgbu and President General of Akpaka Association, Chief Chinedu Akwuaka, said, “It is a thing of joy that we are here to show support and I commend Governor Soludo for the appointment of our son as Chairman of Onitsha Main Market.
“He should be given support for him to perform and for the market to move forward. He needs support to decongest main market and curtail multiple levies,” he pleaded.
The Financial Secretary of the market, Hon John Paul Udeoji, who is also the Chief Provost of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, (ASMATA) stated that, “We are here to show brotherly love to the chairman, Okpalaugo, people are picked to lead because of what they can achieve and not because they are part of campaign that brought the person to power.
“Okpalaugo has been a leader and what we want is one who will lead main market to the next level. So we are here to pay solidarity to him as a good leader,” he disclosed further.
In her speech, a woman trader, Lady Okoyeocha Beatrice, thanked God for the appointment of Okpalaugo and prayed God to guard and direct him in his new position.
- Nwachukwu is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *
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