Anambra market crisis deepens over collapsing security tower ..council chairman issues 2 weeks ultimatum to demolish tower
By Chinwe Nwacha, Onitsha
The crisis between the leadership of Electrical Dealers Association, Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, and a trader, Brother Chekwube Nwankwo, (a.k.a.Okolobia Jesus), following fear of collapsing security tower, has deepened as it took a new dimension shortly after the weekly prayer session of the market.
Addressing the traders, the market chairman, Chief John Bosco Onunkwo, while admitted that the tower was collapsing, said that on several occasions Bro Nwankwo whose shop is within the location of the controversial tower was told to evacuate his wares to avoid damages to his wares during demolition but that he refused
His words, "We are aware that the tower is collapsing, Nwankwo told us about it but the market has no money and asked him to do it by himself as it poses danger to lives and property but Nwankwo instead of doing so went and brought ASUDEB to the market.
"It is not that we can't use force to even seal his shop but because we want due process as leaders.we pleaded that he removed the tower but he refused.It is unfortunate that our brother in Christ is the one causing us this problem. We are still pleading to him to remove his wares to enable us demolish the tower.
"The chairman of Idemili North Local Govenment Area has given him two weeks from now to remove his wares for the demolition after he refused the ASUDEB order to him earlier to remove his wares," he disclosed.
In a swift reaction when contacted, Brother Nwankwo, told newsmen that he had pleaded to three successive administrations to come to his rescue by demolishing the tower adding that the incumbent executives made it the fourth administration he pleaded to for the demolition but to no avail.
"What they want is if the tower collapses and kills me they will come for condolence with #5,ooo and that is the end because that is what the leadership wants. The market chairman said he wants to sell the space I am occupying that is allocated to me.
"He also stopped me from ministering to the traders at our altar during prayer session and removed me from the market WhatsApp group saying I brought Government to the market thereby exposing the market to Government.
"As a man of God I condemned so many atrocities being perpetuated in the market by the leadership and that is why they are after me too. When I approached Chief John Bosco Onunkwo, he said that the market has no money to embark on such for now and I have no other option than to invite ASUDEB because the lives of my entire household, myself and wares are at stake.
"The leadership now sees my inviting ASUDEB as a slight on them and started to threaten me that they will revoke my shop allocation paper and chairman said he will sell my shop.
"The nature of my business doesn't call for building of shops to house my wares and that is why they are in the open space and I have my allocation documents to back up my claim that I procured the space when the former market chairman, Chief Benjamin Orji, was the chairman.
"I have been the coordinator of the prayer group for nine consecutive years and I have been condemning the sale of market properties by those in authority and they see me as a threat but I will not be deterred by their antics," he vowed.
In his reaction, a former chairman, Peace and Reconciliation committee, Chief Oguka Kamsochikwu, said that presently the issue has changed from tower demolition to plot to sell Nwankwo's allocated dump space which he bought from a former chairman of the market.
Hear him, "The issue now is not the tower but how to revoke Nwankwo's dump space he officially procured from a former chairman of the market and sell. In the market if you challenge the leadership they attack you.
"I am saying this now because some people may not know that the target is how to revoke Nwankwo's dump space and sell it. That is the noise all about. The issue has changed from tower to revocation of dump space for sale and that is why they are demanding for his allocation paper," he revealed further.
"Because Nwankwo reported to ASUDEB that the tower may collapse and kill him and his family since the market leadership could not remove it, they now see him as enemy and started to attack him.
"He was banned from ministering during prayer session and also removed from the market WhatsApp platform by the market chairman, accusing him of bringing Government to the market. Would Nwankwo have kept calm and allow the tower to collapse and kill him and his family.
"The Assistant secretary of the market and PRO had in the market WhatsApp platform also confirmed it that Nwankwo was banned from ministering in the market during our weekly prayer session for inviting government over the collapsing tower," he further disclosed.
"My question is, 'will he allow the tower to collapse and kill him and family before he will ask for rescue from government since the market said it has no money to demolish it and Nwankwo too has no money?
"It is unfortunate that the media men that were invited to the market by the leadership pledged to grant me interview as a member of the market but did not live up to their pledge because they were advised not to talk to me," he lamented.
"I was once their victim because I condemned the illegal activities going on in the market. Some of the so called elders have put the market in retrogressive condition for over a decade and they refuse truth to reign
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