Onitsha Market Traders Defy State Government, Reject Caretaker Leadership
Traders at the UBA Plank and Joist Association Ltd, located in Bridge Head Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, have firmly rejected a state-appointed caretaker executive, escalating tensions in the commercial hub. The traders are demanding leaders elected by the market members themselves, rather than those imposed by the government.
Government Appointment Sparks Immediate Backlash
The Anambra State government, through the office of the Special Adviser to Governor Charles Soludo on Trade and Commerce, appointed a 10-member caretaker executive to oversee the market for three months. A letter dated March 6, 2023, signed by Hon. Evarist Uba, cited the expiration of the incumbent leadership's tenure as the reason for this move, with Chief Emmanuel Obunze previously serving as chairman.
However, when the President General of Bridge Head Markets, Hon. Chinedu Ezekwike, arrived on Wednesday, March 11, to introduce the new leadership, traders unanimously voiced their opposition. They insisted on electing their own leaders, rejecting the caretaker arrangement outright.
Allegations of Mismanagement Fuel Resistance
A trader speaking on behalf of the market, Ndubisi Uwadiegwu, highlighted deep-seated concerns about the appointed caretaker chairman, Mr. Odirachukwu Nwosu. Uwadiegwu alleged that Nwosu, who previously served as financial secretary in a prior executive, could not account for millions of naira missing from the market's coffers after that tenure.
"We, the traders in this market, reject anything caretaker. We want to elect our leaders ourselves," Uwadiegwu stated. "This man, Odirachukwu Nwosu, whom the government gives us as chairman, cannot make a good leader. His everyday activities will generate a crisis in the market." His remarks were met with loud applause from fellow traders, underscoring widespread discontent.
Broader Dissatisfaction with Government Policies
In an exclusive interview, an anonymous prominent trader revealed that dissatisfaction extends beyond Nwosu's appointment. Traders are unhappy with the state government's pattern of appointing caretaker committees in markets without holding elections, fearing such arrangements could extend indefinitely.
"Since Soludo became governor, it is only the caretaker committee that they put in all markets - no elections," the trader explained. "They will say this executive will stay for three months, but before you realize what is happening, they will stay for three or four years. We don't want a caretaker, more so, a man of questionable character."
Government Response and Official Channels
Despite the backlash, President General Chinedu Ezekwike maintained that the caretaker executive would assume duty as planned. He emphasized that the state government holds the authority to constitute caretaker committees in markets and urged traders to channel grievances through appropriate channels.
"I am a messenger of the Anambra state government; I did not appoint the caretaker myself," Ezekwike said. "If you had any complaints, you can either come to me or go to Awka and complain to the state government. But I advise that you give the new caretaker executive necessary recognition and cooperation."
Context of Recent Market Demolitions
This conflict occurs against a backdrop of recent government actions affecting traders in Anambra. Earlier, the state government demolished the Onitsha Main Market on March 1, citing unauthorized structures outside the original master plan. Governor Soludo proceeded with the demolition despite protests and a pending court injunction, leading to significant losses for traders and heightened scrutiny of state-market relations.
The ongoing standoff in Bridge Head Market reflects broader tensions between local traders and state authorities over governance and autonomy in commercial spaces.
