The protesters
Onitsha traders protest increased stallage levy, security operatives arrest one
By Calis Mbadugha, Onitsha
Traders at International Electronics Market, Ogbaru, near Onitsha, Anambra State, Friday, made to the major streets and market lines, protesting increased stallage levy allegedly imposed on them by the state government.
Some of the protesting traders carried placards with the inscriptions, "We don't need caretaker committee any longer, we need election, we need account of stewardship, we need election, enough is enough, we are being exploited by the imposed levy from #17,500 to #32,500 stallage levy yearly," among others.
Speaking to newsmen during the protest, the spokesperson, who identified himself as Chijioke Okafor said, "We don't understand the leadership of this market, Soludo appointed caretaker committee, from there to Administrators .
The protesters at the security House of the market.
"We need conduct of election and if it is not done we will not vote for Governor Soludo for second tenure because he is a product of election so why can't he conduct election for us. We will frustrate his election for second tenure.
"Abinitio we were paying #5,500, that was during the era of former governor Willie Obiano. Soludo came and it was increased to #17,500, and now #32,500. A market that is a private market like Ogboefere that is paying #9,000 yearly, so this is wickedness.
"The market leadership said if we don't pay #32,500 our shops will be locked up and we will pay fine after paying the #32,500. That is why we embarked on the protest to tell the government that it is an imposition on us.
"While we were protesting, one of us was arrested by Soludo's security operatives and the loud speaker we used for the protest confiscated by the security operatives and later released to us as we insisted that the loud speaker must be given back to us," he stated.
The spokesperson who was flanked by Chris Ogunus, another speaker, insisted that they will not vote for Soludo for imposition of the said levy and not conducting election in the troubled market.
As at the time of filing this report there was tension that the situation may degenerate into bloodbath if not properly handled and aggrieved traders calmed down and their demands met immediately.
