Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) has urged traders who transact business in various Shopping Plazas in Anambra State to defy the purported fear of the unknown gunmen or hoodlums and resume their normal businesses on Mondays.
Speaking during a meeting with Shopping plazas Chairmen and Secretaries at Onitsha on Monday, the President General ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna (Onwa Oraeri) reminded the Plaza executives of the huge losses being incurred by both individuals and government because of no full business activities every Monday in Anambra and entire South East.
He said that Governor Chukwuma Soludo who has the interest of Ndi Anambra has been using the tax payers money judiciously having almost completed about 400km roads among other interventions and projects.
He said, “Soludo is working. Last time he empowered youths many traders in the market benefited but people from the plaza could not submit names because you were secluding yourselves.
“Let us unite together, sit up and support Soludo’s government because he is a good and very intelligent man that has the interest of the masses.
“As leaders, let us stop blaming Tinubu, dollars or anybody for the current hardship. What will help fight the hunger is we telling ourselves the truth.
“Let the market plazas come out enmasse and stop this unnecessary sit at home. People just create fear and fear is of the devil.
“His Excellency hosted a meeting for market leaders and Joint Task force comprising the Military,police and AVS and they promised to be patrolling every Monday near the markets and plazas in case of any eventuality.
“Last Monday the JTF did not patrol and I reported them to His Excellency but this Monday they patrolled and have decided to keep to the arrangements. I am happy with them.
“So, you leaders should organize yourselves under one unbrella and select a 7 -Man committee that will be part of ASMATA leadership meetings so that traders doing business in plazas all over the state can enjoy other privileges which include defending yourselves against multiple taxation from illegal revenue contractors and attracting funds for projects or programmes like football competition.
“Plazas are Incorporated in ASMATA constitution and nobody will take you serious if you put up any official document without ASMATA letter headed paper.
“Also, remember never to remit any revenue to even I or anyone in cash because all payments are done through the bank with the ANSSID number generated for your own plaza,” said Anuna.
Moreover, Chief Anuna with the support of plazas executives present appointed the duo of Engr Samuel Nwankwo, Manager of Emeka Offor plaza and Mr Chris Nwadilibe of the Young Shall Grow plaza to organize a meeting for all the plazas from major cities in Anambra as soon as possible for further information.
Earlier during the interactive session, Mr Chinedu Udemba of Atlantic plaza Nkpor, Simon Onwe of Ike Dunukofia plaza, Afam Nwagu of Collymart plaza after expressing the fear of endangering the lives of the traders said that plaza owners were also afraid of their plaza being burnt down by hoodlums.
They thanked the ASMATA PG for extending the opportunity for plaza traders to participate in ASMATA affairs and to defend the plazas from intimidation and exploitation saying that this was the first of it’s kind.
According to Engr Samuel Nwankwo of Emeka Offor plaza, 50 percent of plaza traders are ready to open for businesses on Mondays but they need to be convinced that government will provide adequate security both at the markets, plazas and roads leading from residential buildings to the plazas.
Nwankwo further requested for the ASMATA constitution and guidelines to enable the plaza traders participate fully in the ASMATA affairs urging the PG to ensure that plaza traders have enabling environment for business without interference from touts with many so called authorization from both LG Secretariat and State Government.
Moreso, Ochiagha Chukwunonso of Bethel plaza Niger Street, Onitsha eulogized Soludo for channeling the tax payers money into visible projects like the newly constructed road network within, Fegge Onitsha.
However, Ochiagha Chukwunonso said to stop the Monday Sit At Home quickly, suggested that instead of increasing the number of security agents in the State which might scare citizens from going about their normal businesses, all Southeast Governors should go together to Aso Rock, Abuja and demand for unconditional release of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
