Story by Dili Utomi.
The umbrella body of all the major Markets Associations that have traders of South Eastern extraction in them, the Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association (NPMA) held a press conference today to enlighten the citizenry about its activities especially as regards its recently concluded election.
In a statement read out by the association’s new president, Comrade Chinedu Ukatu today at the headquarters of the association, he said “This is to officially inform all , that this noble Association held its election on 4th of May 2023 to usher in a new Executive that will pilot the affairs of the Association for the next four years”.
“We want to reiterate that this organisation’s main objective is to protect the interest of the traders and support any policy of Government that facilitates trade and moreso support any individual or Government that protects our interests”.
The president added “May we use this opportunity to thank the Lagos state Govt ably led by our dear Executive Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo Olu for his support and cordial working relationship. At this juncture, we want to lend our voice to the state of nation going forward. The General elections have come and gone, there are winners and loosers but in all Nigeria wins. We are pleased that those who are dissatisfied with the process have approached the court for redress as stipulated by the constitution and we are happy with that rather than resort to anarchy and violence. This is highly commendable, we therefore call on politicians to eschew all forms of violence and intimidation that heat up the polity. We also call on the winners to allow those dissatisfied with the process to lawfully express it at the law courts and avoid any pre judicial comments and because its every one’s right to seek redress lawfully”.
It will be recalled that the association made a whole lot of efforts to calm frayed nerves last year when some miscreants decided to establish multiple toll gates at the Alaba International Market as the misunderstanding was resolved with the aid of the Lagos state government. They had also appealed to traders to be calm and seek peaceful resolution of the crises that occured in the wake of the 2023 elections.
The association also used the opportunity to give their backing to the candidacy of Honourable Benjamin Kalu who is a member of the House of Representatives for the position of deputy speaker since the position has been zoned to the South East by the ruling APC party.
The president said that this press briefing also serves as a mechanism for enunciating the core interests of traders in general and the association in particular.
In a private interview with pressmen after the briefing, Comrade Ukatu said that the high cost of forex is negatively affecting business and that the government should put mechanisms in place to check the slide in the value of the local currency.
The secretary of the association, Chief Anthony Okeke in an interview said that the briefing is all about the state of the nation as far as the association is concerned and also the need to act as a pressure group of traders trying to protect their interests under the framework of the constitution even though they are an apolitical organisation. He noted that though the association is in a good working relationship with the Lagos State government, the 58 strong Markets Associations umbrella body further seeks to strengthen the relationship in any way possible.
The new executive menbers include
HON COMR CHINEDU UKATU, President
NZE MARCEL OKEZUE, Vice president.
CHIEF DR ANTHONY OKEKE. General Secretary.
PRINCE AFRICANUS OGUDORO Assistant General secretary.
HON. COMR OBINNA O OBICHUKWU, Public Relations Officer.
MR CLEMENT O, MOLOKWU, Financial secretary .
HON. METU A. EJIKE, BOT Chairman.
CHIEF EZEKWONNA RUFUS IKECHUKWU,
Chairman Emeritus
MR. IFESINEKE IFEDIORAMMA, Chief Provost
MR. EGWUATU ARINZE VICE Assistant Provost
HON VINCENT IKWUEZE, Zonal Coordinator.
CHIEF TOCHUKWU EZEANI,
President Emeritus Mandilas international Trade Center, Lagos Trade Fair Complex Lagos.
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