Afam Aminu Chimezie, Onitsha
This is not the best of times for Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State with traders in Onitsha which is the business hub of the South East, said a political analysts in the area. Obiano appears to be working hard to retain his seat for a second term in office.
More worrisome is the revelation of the traders, who the governor has hinged his hope of securing a second term in office. Right now they are gradually deserting his camp to seek an alternative candidate for the position of governor of the state in the 2017 governorship election.
Investigations gathered by our correspondent indicates that Governor Obiano is reliably more comfortable with civil servants across the state whom he has managed to pay their salaries as and at when due. Despite the fact that when some state in Nigeria, even some oil producing states are still owing their workers several months of salary arrears.
However, traders in Anambra state and Onitsha in particular have expressed disappointment with the performance of the state governor who they accused of reneging on his electioneering campaign promises, adding more hardship to their woes.
A market leader and vice-chairman of Power Tools and allied Products Dealers Association, Bridge-Head, Onitsha, Sylvester Ahanonu expressed reservation on the popularity of Gov. Obiano among traders in Onitsha who constitute about 80 per cent of voters in the commercial town.
Ahanonu narrated how the state governor and his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi came to campaign for votes in the market and promised to construct the access road from the market to Oduwani street for easy evacuation of goods to and fro the market.
He regreted that after the election the road has not been constructed. The market leader also stated that Gov. Obiano has discarded traders in the entire state by increasing their stall age fee from N4800 annually to N12000; a situation he said has pitched the traders against the APGA led government.
Ahanonu maintained that despite several request made to the state governor through the market leadership led by AMATAS President-General, Okwudili Ezenwankwo, Gov. Obiano has remained adamant.
He, however, called on the state governor to fulfill his campaign promises to traders of the market as the day of reckoning was around the corner.