Anambra Govt unseals shut radio technicians shops in Onitsha

Phil Okose, Onitsha

Anambra State Government Wednesday in Onitsha, unsealed the radio and television technicians shops reportedly sealed by security operatives for refusing to relocate to a permanent site allegedly meant for them.

The unsealing of the shops was based on the petition by the artisans to the Special Adviser to Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo on Trade and Markets, Hon. Evarist Uba, through the chairman of Onitsha South Street Traders Association, Chief Eric Uwaoma and President General, PG, of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna.

Unsealing the market at Iweka axis, on behalf of Hon. Uba, the ASMATA PG, stated the need for observation of freedom of association adding that the unsealing is also aimed at restoring peace in the market and the entire state.

He cautioned the warring factions to be mindful of Governor Soludo’s resolve to ensure ever lasting peace in the state even as he warned that trouble makers will not be spared.

Recall that the radio and television faction in a protest earlier, accused members of the Electronic Spare Parts Traders Association in the state of masterminding their eviction through the Anambra State Government.

During the protest last weekend, they carried placards with various inscriptions around the Onitsha metropolis insisting that the leadership of ESPTA was collaborating with the state government to eject them and force them to relocate to Harbour Industrial Layout in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

Some of the placards read, “Governor Chukwuma Soludo, come to our rescue”, “Freedom of Association is our fundamental right”, “We are Artisans not Traders”, “Governor Soludo, rescue us from this intimidation”, “E.S.P.T.A, go with your members only, we are not part of you”, “The new market is for members of Electronic Spare Parts Traders Association only, we say no to forceful ejection”, among others.

Expressing satisfaction with the unsealing of their workshops, the artisans’ chairman, Sebastine Ebilite, explained that the ejection notice was actually served to the spare part traders to relocate their businesses to Harbour Industrial Layout and not them, who are the artisans.

Ebilite said that due to the nature of their profession and for paring shops with the dealers, they became victims of the circumstance.

“The state government placed an eviction notice in front of our shops through the Governor’s Special Adviser on Trade and Market, Chief Evaristus Obi, dated June 11, 2024, as being the last day for every occupant of the shops to vacate, but the eviction notice was for the electronic spare parts traders to relocate to their new market and not the radio, television technicians.

“We are radio and television technicians, but the electronic traders are forcing us to go with them to their new market because they engage us in repairing their electronics.

“Due to the nature of our work, we cannot operate in an industrial layout, except in residential areas, but the electronic traders are forcing us to join them. We are different from them. We want to remain where we are on Iweka Road which is a residential area. We are not interested in relocating to that new place. We are very much comfortable here,” he hinted.

Reacting, the Onitsha South Street chairman, Eric Uwaoma urged the artisans to ensure non members are not in their midst stating that there is freedom of association.

He commended Chief Uba and ASMATA PG for coming to the rescue of the artisans and vowed that the artisans have resolved to vote for the governor for his achievements in the state.