A rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law,(INTERSOCIETY) has warned Governor Willie Obiano not to proceed with the planned imposition of government-appointed Caretaker Committee leaders to oversee the affairs of the Anambra Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, (AMATAS).
The group, in a letter to the Governor through the State Commissioner for Commerce and Trade , Mr. Christian Madubuko, and signed by the board chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, urged the governor not to impose a caretaker committee on traders, as it will set the state on fire.
According to the group, any imposition of caretaker committee would set the Anambra markets association on fire and government may not easily control the outcome.
The group said going by the feelers from markets on Saturday, the 72 associations that constitute AMATAS have rejected the the plan of caretaker committee and were ready for election.
Part of the letter reads, “The planned imposition by the State Government of a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the State mother Market Association is a time bomb awaiting to happen and it must be avoided.
“AMATAS is an umbrella Market Association for all recognized markets in Anambra State. Presently, the mother Market Association operates with 72 registered markets and their associations.
“The 72 registered markets are drawn from central market associations with hundreds of mini markets and their associations spread across the State.
“Elections into AMATAS leadership positions are conducted using a college of electors, comprising chairman and secretary of each of the 72 registered markets with three other delegates drawn from each of the 72 markets; numbering 360 electoral college delegates.
“It is from the college of electors that the new President General of AMATAS and other officers are elected to serve for four years, renewable for another and final four years.
“Accordingly, we have it on good authority that procedures for the election have been put in place and processes advanced; with time, venue and date of the poll fixed; only for some people with vested interests to turn around and start agitation for cancellation of the poll and imposition of a caretaker committee. Critics and close sources have pointed accusing fingers at the direction of some political appointees and associates of the governor, and we urge the governor to resist this.”
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