Flawed election : Soludo ejects market chairman with security operatives for refusing to quit office

By Phil Okose Onitsha

For refusing to comply with the  Anambra State Government order to quit office as the chairman of Ogbaru Relief (Main) market, Ogbaru Local Government Area, , over alleged flawed election in his market, out of  32  of them (market leaders) that complied based on same order, barely six months after the order was issued, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, weekend used security operatives and ejected Chief Ndubuisi Ochiogu as chairman of the market and installed Chief David Obidike-, as his successor..

The Governor, through his Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Hon. Obinna Ngonadi, used a combined team of the police, Department of Security Service, DSS, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and Vigilante group, as last resort to eject him after series of letters for him to comply with the order

Ochiogu was said to have rather than comply with the quit order, sued the State Government even as the Government directed the traders in the market to stop all manners of payment to him as his stay there was illegal.

The Special Assistant to Governor Soludo on Market Affairs, Hon. Ezenduka Chike, who led the combined security team to the market to install Chief Obidike-, had on arrival at the market Secretariat, met an empty office and  phone calls put across to Ochiogu to come and hand over to the new administration, were not picked.

In his post installation speech, Obidike- pledged to carry the market to the next level and urged the traders to give him maximum cooperation to help move the market forward assuring there would not be gnashing of teeth by traders as there would be adequate protection of wares of traders.

He recalled how the election the market conducted to elect a democratic executive was flawed by his predecessor, Ochiogu and commended the Governor and the Commissioner for finding him worthy to pilot the affairs of the market as a caretaker committee chairman pending when an election would be conducted.

“I thank God for Governor Soludo who has listening ear, I saw hell on the day of that election as a contestant to the chairmanship seat. Those that were to vote for me were not allowed to come inside the field”

“When I boycotted the election  arena because it was flawed and was to leave, they locked the gate and held me hostage, that I must be there until after the election”

Speaking, the former chairman of the market and a chairmanship candidate in the flawed election, Chief Victor Nwawuzie Akirika, thanked God for the intervention  of Governor Soludo adding that with the appointment of Obidike- as the caretaker committee chairman peace has been restored.

He urge the traders to always trust in God and be patient in all their undertakings adding that ,”Ochiogu refused to leave office until the government that installed him there removed him like he did to me, Ochiogu broke and entered my office on a New year day, Public holiday when everybody was in the house”

“I was removed on frivolous allegations and later government found me innocent and reinstated me as an elected chairman of the market. We shall assist Obidike- to move the market forward, he is a patient man” he stated. .

In their various remarks, the chairman of all chairmen, Chief Chinyelugo Maduka and his Vice who also doubles as treasurer of the caretaker committee of the market, Chinedu Nnaemezie, thanked Governor Soludo for coming to the rescue of the market adding that the election that brought in Ochiogu led executive was flawed.

“We thank God for the peace that has been restored and hope that whenever election will be conducted it has to be free,zone fairand credible”

Also a member of the committee, Chief James Okeke, prayer warriors of the market led by Elder Ohanebo and the woman leader, Mrs. Osinachi Olowa, thanked God for the installation of Obidike- to pilot the affairs of the market.

Their words, “We love  Obidike, Soludo you did very well to install him because the election last time was flawed. Two potential chairmanship candidates were insulted, one of them, Victor Nwawuzie Akirika, had his APGA clothe he was wearing torn by thugs and both Obidike and Akirika boycotted the election as their voters were not allowed to vote.

As the two were about to leave they were held hostage by those Ochiogu kept at the gate untill after the election. Is that democracy we are talking about?”, they queried .