Traders at the Onitsha Millennium Merchant Market, Sokoto Road, Onitsha, Anambra State, have been jubilating over the impeachment of the Onitsha South Local Government Area Chairperson, Lady Ann Chukwuneke. Sunday Independent gathered that Chukwuneke was allegedly impeached by a two-third majority of councillors in the Onitsha South Local Government Legislative Council on Thursday. Upon hearing the news of the impeachment, traders went into a frenzy of celebration; they were addressed by the chairman, Millennium Merchant Market, Onitsha, Valentine Ezechukwu, who said it was a new dawn in the affairs of traders in the market, as the local government chairperson had been an obstacle on the path of progress for traders in the market. He accused the former local government chairman of high-handedness and corruption, which he said had trailed her administration since she became the chairman of Onitsha South Local Government. According to Ezechukwu, Chukwuneke was in the habit of bringing thugs who are alleged members of MASSOB to the market to harass and intimidate traders in the name of collecting revenue for the local government council. Chukwuneke had denied this allegation, saying those peddling the rumour that she was high-handed were just enemies of progress and her political opponents, as her sole interest was how to improve on the welfare of the traders and people of her council area, which led to her winning an award recently. She denied bringing thugs to the market or asking traders to pay N50,000, adding that she meant well for the traders and she has done everything to protect their interest. The rift between the traders and the council boss, which recently led to destruction of her official vehicle and stoning by the traders, culminated in her alleged impeachment even though she has been experiencing a running battle with some councillors in the council who accused her of corruption, arrogance and high-handedness, thereby polarising the council. Also speaking, Maduabichi Okoye, Vice- Chairman of the market, accused the former local government boss of illegally asking traders to pay N50,000 each, even when the traders are occupying shops as tenants in plazas where the landlords pay property rate and other forms of development levy to government. He alleged that the failure of traders in the area to pay the stipulated fee compelled her to hire thugs to harass traders in the market. He also recounted his ordeal in the hands of the thugs.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 18:00:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015