2023: Anambra market to commence “operation show your PVC”

By Phil Okose Onitsha

Traders at Ogbaru Relief (Main) market, Ogbaru local Government Area, Anambra State, have been directed to ensure they get registered in the on going Continuos Voters’ Registration, CVR, exercise, in the entire country or be sanctioned.

Giving the directive, the chairman of the market, Chief David Obidike, warned that those who did not get their PVC will be sanctioned.

According to him, “we will soon embark on ‘operation show your PVC’, in the market because your power to elect the candidates of your choice is the PVC.

“Go and get it now because this coming Sunday is the last day for procuring it unless INEC will extend the time. Already, here in the market Secretariat, I  brought the INEC officials and the exercise is on going. Eligible people are trooping in on daily basis to get registered, so why can’t you have your right to vote your choice.

“You will recall that Ogbaru market was among the 32 flawed markets in the State because the removed executive members connieved with the then Commissioner of Trade, Markets and Wealth Creation, Hon. Uchenna Okafor, among others, to conduct flawed election. So let us avoid repeat of what happened in our market in this Nigerian general election, a stitch in time saves nine.

“If not for the intervention of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, through his Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Hon. Obinna Ngonadi, by now crises in the markets in the State would have caused bloodbath because of flawed election and overstay of members of caretaker committees who vowed to continue to be in the markets at the detriment of the majority of the traders.

“Governor Soludo is our saviour otherwise we would have remained in fear of the unknown as we have no say then. But today, since I came on board about a month now, nobody has reported that a pin has been stolen from his shop or that they broke his shop. Security is assured even if our market is surrounded by flash points.

“Also I urge our amiable Governor Soludo, to come to the rescue of the traders by repairing the damaged portion of the Sakamori drainage system in our market that is now a big security threat.

“The portion caved in early this rainy season and if nothing is done now, by the end of this rainy season, the flood obviously will sack the market.

“The electric poles, underground cables, water borne pipes, among others,  have been exhumed and damaged by the flood that has callapsed about 30 shops in the market.”

Contributing, one of the patrons of the market, Chief Andrew Oguine,  advised the traders to see the efforts of the chairman as a welcome development especially as it concerns security of the traders’ wares.

His words, “the Chairman, in his wisdom, brought INEC officials to the market just to stop us from going outside the market to procure it. You know the traders will not leave the market unless you force them.

“So we should help ourselves by doing the needful in getting the PVC that is now in our market Secretariat. Our Chairman, Chief Obidike-, is God-sent through the Commissioner of Trade and Industry, to come and alleviate the suffering of traders in Ogbaru Relief (Main) market, and other flawed markets in the State.

“We are so happy the way he is piloting the affairs of the market and I urge all to give him maximum support including the immediate past executive that caused the flawed election.” END.