By Toby Chuks
The Governor of Anambra State Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has revealed that his administration will soon democratize Market leadership in the State by conducting election in the markets to pave the way for the traders to democratically chose their leaders. Governor Soludo gave the hint in Onitsha during the thanksgiving organized by the umbrella body of traders in the State known as Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Associations ( ASMATA) to celebrate end of 5years Monday sit at home in the State.
The governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Trade and Commerce Chief Mike Obiekwe assured the traders of adequate security, good policies and infrastructures that accelerate ease of doing business in the State. He commended the President General of ASMATA Chief Humphrey Anuna for ensuring that traders are peaceful and supportive to the government.
“The governor of Anambra State Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo (Oluatuegwu) is happy with the traders because they are peaceful and supportive. The governor is assuring the traders and all residents and visitors that he will continue to ensure tight security and all that is necessary to ensure ease of doing business including friendly policies and quality infrastructure knowing fully well that Anambra is a commercial driven State” Obiekwe said.
In his remark the ASMATA boss Chief Anuna gave account of Governor Soludo’s impact on traders with numerous projects that have directly and indirectly uplifted traders in the State including massive road construction, tight security and environmental management with effective decongestion of major roads and strict traffic control adding that Soludo has restored the confidence of traders in governance.
The PG said that the traders deemed it right enough to celebrate the end of Monday sit home with a thanksgiving in the Church as a mark of expression of gratitude to God. While thanking Governor Soludo for mustering the force to quash sit at home he called on traders both within and those outside the State that usually come to buy goods to start coming ton Monday as Monday sit at home has been brought to an end.
Also speaking, the President of Building Material International Market, Ogidi Chief Jude Nwankwo alias Jolity who is also a Patron of ASMATA called on traders mostly those from outside Anambra that come to buy goods to start coming on Monday because business has resumed in Anambra on Monday courtesy of the hardworking governor, Professor Soludo (Oluatuegwu).
Chief Nwankwo who in his usual magnanimity offered to provide incentives to traders who come to buy goods on Monday in the Market thanked God for His blessings upon Ndi Anambra also commended Governor Soludo for restoring the confidence of Ndi Anambra in government with impact governance noting that the impact Soludo has made in bringing discipline to bear, bringing tight security and road construction in particular has made people to believe in government like never before in the State
Other market leaders in their separate including Madam Ifeoma Anne and Blessing Ezedebego of ASMATA Women Wing, the Chairman New Autor Spare Parts Market Nkpor Chief Obiora Stephen Offole alias and the Chairman of Onyeaghananwanneya Abatoir Umunya Chief Chinedu Uba among others.thanked the governor Professor Soludo and ASMATA PG Chief for ensuring peace between the government and traders assuring their unflinching support to government and ASMATA.
Earlier on the Champlain of St Charles Borromeo Parish (Chaplaincy) Rev Fr Boniface Okafor commended the good relationship between the government and the traders praying that God will continue to guide and protect the governor, the traders and the entire people of the State.
Major highlights of the day is presentation of Award of Honor to prominent personalities which include the PG of ASMATA Chief Anuna, th Patron of ASMATA Chief Nwankwo, renowned businessmen in the persons of Chief BobFrancis Nzekwesi, Chief Jude Agumadu, and Chief Moses Umeh.


