Traders in Amawbia market in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest against leadership crisis in the market.
The traders, predominantly women under the aegis of Amawbia Market Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATA) decried harassment and intimidation of their duly elected officers by certain individuals, calling for intervention of Commissioner of Police.
The angry protesters who marched to the Police Headquarters, bore placards with varying inscriptions including, “Our matter is in court, let court decide”; “Deputy Speaker is sponsoring crisis in Eke Amawbia market”, “Police please stop Deputy Speaker from interfering and causing crisis in our market.”
Others inscriptions include: “Petitioners against our president have been suspended by General Assembly of AMATA”, “We love our president, Daniel Nwokoye” among others.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, Counsel to the Association, Chibuzo Ezenwa alleged that the influential individuals with backing of Deputy Commissioner of Police were disrupting their activities using instrumentality of force.
He said, “Despite pending lawsuits they filled against the President, Daniel Nwokoye, they still went ahead to harass him and members of his executive, using Police to stop him from carrying out his lawful duties.
“The marketers are not happy with the DCP directives in charge of state CID, coupled with the fact that the people masterminding the crisis are using armed men to invade the market.
“They first filed a lawsuit at the Awka Magistrate court, praying the court to stop the president from parading himself and carrying out his duty, including holding any form of meeting.
“Again, they proceeded to National Industrial court filing the same suit which is an abuse of court process.
“Meanwhile, the association filled its own suit against the purported suspension letter issued by Transitional Committe Chairman of Awka South Local government area, alleging suspension of the president.
“We’re saying the TC chairman has no power under any written law to suspend the president.”
Acknowledging that no casualty had been recorded in course of the crisis, Ezenwa attributed the feat to his legal advice to the traders not to take laws into their hands.
“Whenever the armed men attack, the traders usually alert me and I always advise them to avoid anything that can cause choas and security threat but to deploy legal means to solve the problems,”
Responding to the protesters, Commissioner of Police, Adeoye Aderemi commended them for their peaceful disposition devoid of violence and their confidence in the police.
The CP who spoke through one of his officers, Ibrahim Ezekiel assured soon amicable resolution of the matter.
Briefing journalists after meeting with the CP, lawyer to the protesters disclosed that Aderemi had given an order directing the DC to steer clear of the union activities and to stop interfering in any market politics.
“After petitioning the DC on the issues, the CP agreed with us that the DC has no power to suspend the President and to instruct him not to carry out his duty.
“He gave an order directing the DC to steer clear of the union activities and to stop interfering in any market politics which for us is a welcome development.”
