Chinedum Treasure
Traders in Onitsha, under the aegis of Onitsha South Traders Forum, Anambra State has urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to sack the Commissioner for Commerce, Hon. Nomso Ebonwu over alleged incompetence to restore peace in most markets in Onitsha.
The forum which spoke through its spokesperson, Dr. Izu Okoye, a two time chairman of Onitsha International Electronics Market and Chieftain of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Onitsha South council area, lamented that his appointment as Commissioner of Commerce has worsened the situation.
Citing the Ozomagala Building Materials market, Onitsha, as a case study, the forum disclosed that the case between the landlords, (Modebe Family) and the traders, still lingered and chairman of the market, Obiora Okoro and his executives being constantly arrested by police from Abuja.
“If the Commissioner has handled, say 20 cases since he assumed office, he failed in settling the all 20 cases. Market is a very sensitive place where an experienced person in trade and commerce should be appointed to, not an all comers affair or for inexperienced and incompetent person.
“It is unfortunate that Ebonwu listens only to the rich and dump the poor when dealing with market crisis like he did to the Ozomagala market crisis, Onitsha Ogbogwu (Drug) market, Onitsha Main market, among others, thereby perverding the course of justice.
“We as traders have weighed him and found out that he is unfit to pilot the affairs of the traderx, he is a small boy and does not have that shock absorber to absorb the pressure from traders.
“The case he handled at Ogbogwu market failed, no good result, same at Ochanja, Iweka, Ozomagana and others.He has no cordial relationship with the market leaders and chairmen, including those in the legal department of the Commerce Ministry, from our findings.
“He is the worst commissioner ever and has not done anything good to the traders and that is why we urge the Commissioner to remove him for a competent hand to take over the seat, there are so many capable hands out there,” the forum pleaded.
“We want to tell the governor also that if he (Ebonwu) is the one to conduct the traders’ election that is always hot and crises laden, that Ebonwu will not have the muscle to bring the situation under control.
Contacted earlier, Ebonwu referred newsmen to his Public Relations Officer, (PRO), Ebelechukwu Odili, to react on the allegations on his behalf.
Contacted the PRO described the allegations as false, frivolous and untrue adding that the case of Ozomagana Building Materials market is pending in a court and as such will amount to subjudice if her principal reacts to it.
She said, “My Commissioner will have nothing to say in the matter that is still pending in court,” recalling that the case has been in court even before he assumed duty as the Commissioner for Commerce.
“That Modebe case has been there even before the Commissioner, Ebonwu took over as the Commissioner for Commerce. He doesn’t have anything to say about Modebe Enterprises market crisis. Everything about Modebe is in court. Anybody telling you that Commissioner is biased and incompetence is not saying the truth
“I am telling you that Commissioner can not be biased, he doesn’t have anything to say about Modebe in a case that is in court. So those Modebe Enterprises’ cases that are in court, the Commissioner will not say anything,”PRO maintained
The PRO disclosed further that markets have desk officers where cases are channeled to for settlement and ones that could not be settled within the scope of the desk officer are transferred to the Commissioner.
“So if the traders have problem they should get to the Redress desk, they have the numbers to call to get the desk officer so that their case will be addressed. Commissioner can not jump protocol,” the PRO further explained.
About Author
