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By Dr Innocent Chidumebi Okonkwo.
The interim leadership of the Aguleri Timber Market in Aguleri junction have called on it's members as well as public to ignore a sponsored story in Soludo TV Social media platform alleging that one Mr KC is the Chairman of the market.
Speaking in a telephone conversation with OMT reporters on Saturday morning, 4th November 2023, The acting Secretary General of the market, Pastor Mike Okwunwanne described the news as fake news circulated by the conspirators.
“It is impossible, Mr Pius Machi would not through the backdoor endorse his inlaw as the Chairman against the will of over hundreds of traders in the Aguleri market.
"Those circulating the fake news are enemies of Aguleri. They are instruments/weapons of destruction used by Udeoba Anuenyi group to destabilize the market, we understand them, and we are ahead of them and their collaborators we are waiting for Pius Machi and KC his in law in the market".
Speaking further, Okwunwanne said that after several meetings with the two factions under the supervision of HRH Eze Mike Idigo and Aguleri community Assembly PG Rolex Iloakasia, they constituted a caretaker commitee from the two factions and made a neutral person, Mr Amechi Adimorah the interim Chairman. The team was charged to conduct an election within a stipulated time.
"The resolution was signed by the representatives of the factions including the Igwe and PG. The Udeoba Anuenyi group have refused to honour the resolution to conduct an election, when they realized that they were going to loose".
"What they did was to start lobbying for the appointment of another caretaker commitee in other to keep delaying the election in their favour and we said no. The next thing we saw was the puported registration with ASMATA in a social media"
" Udeoba nominated one KC an inlaw of Pius Machi and they went behind to conduct an illegal inaguration in a far away Ogbunike inside a shop where no body saw them"
"infact, we are presently in court with the ASMATA and we told them that we have freedom of association in Nigeria".
"I will send you you an evidence of our litigation with ASMATA so that who ever is doing any registration with them will understand that he is on his own"
"The KC they want to impose on us is new in the market. He is not constitutionally qualified to contest for Chairman because we don't know his character yet. He just came to the market last year"
He concluded by saying that Pius is not in the market and should leave them alone.
Responding to the allegations, Mr Pius Machi said that the IG led group were all liars.
"I want you to record what am saying incase of tomorrow"
"My brother, Arinze notified me about this Ogbosisi crisis last year and when I wrote it in Aguleri World Forum operation hub, it was only Nnamdi too much that showed interest in the discussion. Later, my inlaw KC reported the same issue to me and I informed the Special adviser to Governor Soludo on market, and the Governor's adviser asked me if the market was registered under ASMATA and I related back to my inlaw, my inlaw said it was registered, although they were in court".
"Early this year, KC called for my assistance again". Pius maintained that he went back to the Governor's adviser and he told them to submit names of caretaker commitee members. " I asked them to bring names from both factions".
When our reporters asked Pius if he knew any of the people that were allegedly recognized by ASMATA he said, " The Chairman KC is my younger sister's husband, I know Bonny Okagbue and Igbanu but I don't actually know others.
Did you ask to know if the other faction was represented before submitting the names ?
" I was believing that I was dealing with those that involved me through KC but when name was published, I showed my brother and he said it was not balanced. And I told him that I would come to Aguleri to adress them. It was KC my inlaw that brought the names".
" Rolex called me and I told my in-law to inform Rolex that community does not control markets"
"That Rolex should not threathen my inlaw because it was government that made him the chairman of the market"
According to him, Operating a market without ASMATA registration is like parading a king without certificate.
" In Ezudo's palace the leader of the other faction admitted to be part of all the registrations of the market except ASMATA"
" They were asked for fresh nominations for caretaker commitee but IG group declined".
"They refused to submit fresh representatives for another interim leadership but they were busy reaching out to the overall PG of the Anambra State market, Chief Onwa"
" If they keep attaching themselves under Otuocha market it will not give Aguleri market an independence we are clamouring for. And with the current Governor's order, they cannot conduct Election. The order binds all the markets in Anambra State."
Machi said that while Udeoba's group recognized him, IG group went and reported him to his elder brother even when his concern was to keep the Aguleri market going.
"They are now fully registered and can now operate legally and gain government benefits", Machi concluded.
Reacting to the issue, the PG of Aguleri Community Assembly, Barr. Rolex Ifeanyi Iloakasia said that apart from being the PG of Aguleri community Assembly, that he is also the legal adviser of the market Association.
"There are 38 persons that formed the market they registered it under CAC. At a point they had issue of accountability and we resolved it for them. But this leadership crisis is taken too long and seems hard to resolve".
" They fought, injured themselves, went to police and spent a lot of money and while they were doing all these things, Udeoba Anuenyi the leader of a faction connived with one Mr KC, an inlaw of Pius Machi and puportedly registered the Association under ASMATA even it was alleged that KC was not a full member of the market".
"Nigerian constitution gave us freedom of association. You cannot force a group to join your association. ASMATA is not a government agency. It is only Trade and commerce that regulate the market activities and not ASMATA".
" This problem started when a faction wanted to pepertuate in power. They brought Ikechukwu Chieji to falsify a document that the market land was leased and if not for our intervention Okike, Orekiti and others would have been in jail by now".
"When we asked the two factions to give us 4 representatives each for another caretaker commitee the IG group rejected it. And they have a good point. They said they needed an election and they were right because that was our resolution before the first caretaker commitee was set up".
Rolex said that Pius Machi politisized the issue because he wanted to use an advantage of his relationship with the SA to Governor to install his younger sister's husband, Mr KC as the chairman of the market.
When the traditional ruler of Aguleri, HRH Eze Mike Idigo was contacted, he said that when they were contacted about the matter, they constituted a caretaker commitee from the two factions and made a neutral person, Amechi Adimorah their leader. "He was mandated to conduct Election. Unfortunately, Akwade died and it was suspended. I gave them an ultimatum before the end of October. surprisingly, I got a letter about ASMATA inaguration and I told the union leader that i cannot guarantee him peace during the planned inaguration because 30 out of 38 founding members of the market were not aware of ASMATA registration.
" I told Pius Machi personally that there was a resolution signed by all of us and we will abide by it"
"I was surprised to hear that the same Pius brought one new person to lead the market"
The traditional ruler said that the IG group said that they don't want Pius's inlaw and the reason why they rejected the appointment of another caretaker commitee was because they wouldn't want any person that will hand them over to ASMATA".
When the traditional ruler was asked if there were other markets in the state that are not registered under ASMATA he said, "yes, some markets are not under ASMATA". Although, i may not say what the law provides because iam not a lawyer" Ezeudo concluded.
The interim Chairman, Mr Amechi Adimorah said that Pius Machi wants to create problem in the market. "ASMATA registration and membership was never discussed in all our meetings. Pius is not in the market, what is his interest in the market?, Ikemba said.
All efforts to interview the leader of the Udoba Anuenyi group proved abortive. Mr Udoba told OMT reporters that he will assemble his group, including the puported ASMATA appointed chairman, Mr KC and address the press in no distant time.