The Joint Session of Stakeholders and Leaders of Thought of Bridgehead Market Traders Association have passed a vote of implicit confidence on Governor Chukwuma Soludo as he marks 100 days in office.
In a briefing during the weekend by the Chairman and Secretary of the joint session, Chief Bonaventure Ucheagu and Sir Peter Okala, they lauded the Governor for his success in governance especially in the area of security, leadership recruitment, environmental sanitation, improvement of trade and commerce among others.
They also lauded the Hon Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Obinna Ngonadi, who they said has proven to be “a square peg in the square hole in line with the vision and mission of Governor Soludo.
“Mr Governor, your social contract of providing security of lives and property of Ndi Anambra has not been taken for granted.You have even put your own life and exalted office forward when it matters in securing the lives of citizens. Mr Governor went extra miles to ensure that the lives of Ndi Anambra both at home and all over the country were secured by assuring our fellow citizens of other etinic groups that their lives matters. We say thank you sir.”
Continuing, “The package is full and ready to take Ndi Anambra to our desired enviable heights. The eradication of touts and its menace on our citizens, practical introduction of made in Anambra household equipment, footwear, clothing and even vehicles has actually completed the circle and brought answers to our generational quest for think mantra,” said the group.
They said that the Governor has made Anambra people proud not only by his outstanding achievements within the last 100 days in office but Ndi Igbo in general by speaking into their ears and minds, stressing the need for the “people to carry out their agitations responsibly, economically and strategically in order not to endanger our
“collective security,, though the challenges are obvious but they expressed confidence that light is inevitable at the end of the tunnel.”
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The leaders of the Bridgehead traders said that the Governor’s intervention through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has brought salvation to the trading activities in Anambra State which has 70 percent of its citizens as active traders and therefore strategic pillar in the state’s economy.
They said the timely desolution of about thirty two markets whose leadership contradicts every acceptable procedure has boosted the morale of ordinary traders in Anambra State.
“The launching of the historic ground breaking of the new site for the Medicine Dealers Association of Bridgehead at Oba in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State was in line with the international best practices, a feat which has remained impossible in the past,” the group said.
They lauded Prof. Soludo’s recent visit to Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB), although it was seen by some as clanish and one with ehinic colouration.
However, the visit, they said was entirely a proactive step to nip in the bud the negative security development which has constituted concern to all and sundry.
“Your deployment of men and resources in protecting this part of the nation since your visit which has yielded positive results has become a shock to the doubting Thomas. People in Anambra State can now sleep with their two eyes closed. Naming ceremonies, traditional marriages, burials, weddings and others can now hold without paying levies to criminals by whatever guise,” the leaders of thought and stakeholders said.
The group however asked the governor to beam his searchlight at Chief Ikechukwu Ekwegbalu led ASMATA which was alleged to have operated “a pay as you go office for elections in various markets in Anambra State and of which millions of naira were paid depending on the size of the market in question to secure the return of one’s desired list of various market executives.”
They also lashed at security agents who they alleged were part of the illegalities and clandestine processes which took place under their watchful eyes “whose shares of the bargain were usually protected by the ASMATA office.”
The group alleged that the same was also used to share billions of naira realised from stallage fees accruing to the state government.
The leaders commended the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry for busting hundreds of millions of Naira fraud in connection with remittance of government revenue at Bridge Head Market.
