Obi, Obiano Pelted With Sachet-Water By Onitsha Traders During Market Campaign

Traders in Onitsha Main Market today
resisted the order by the state government to
close the markets in order to welcome Mr.
Willie Obiano, the embattled candidate of
APGA now facing two court cases for double
registration.
The confusion which followed the event
marred the proposed visit at 9am today of
the APGA candidate in company Chief
Martins Joe-Martins Uzodike, his Campaign
Manager who also doubles as the State
Commissioner for Information, Tourism &
Culture.
The traders showed visible anger as they
marched through the environment carrying
placards.
They were soon joined buy another contingent
marching from Ose Okwodu with brooms and
in no time bystanders a, youngsters and
Okada riders joined them chanting songs in
favor of the APC candidate in the election,
Senator Chris Ngige.
The arrival of the Governor Obi and Obiano
did not deter the protesting traders. Rather
the governor’s entourage was pelted with
sachet water bags, prompting a quick retreat
to Whitehouse office of the Onitsha
Amalgamated Traders Association (OMATA),
where the donation of N1m announced by the
governor was shouted down with many
booing his entourage.
As at the time of filing this report, agents of
the Governor Obi are wooing the traders
individually through their leaders to come to
Onitsha North stadium to be addressed, but
the resistance appear.
One of the traders explained: ‘ We received an
order by the government saying that we
should not do business today, of which (sic)
we feel that it is not okay’ Mr. Andrew
Agbapu, Fancy Line said ‘ Every time they will
close our business without considering our
gain’.
Another trader in home appliance line, Mr.
Fred Nebedum said;’ It is not by force to
support a candidate. The worst is that he
should come and say what he wants to do
and other will also come. But it does not
mean we will not do business for that?‘
Mr. Phil Onyia, of Abada line, Williams Street
was blunter ‘The truth is that the government
is forcing an unpopular candidate; someone
we do not want to spoil our business and
what is why we have this problem. We want
Ngige, although we do not say anybody else
should not campaign, but they should stop
playing with our stomach for politics.’ Onyian
fumed.
Governor Peter Obi was reported as saying
that political parties will not be allowed to
campaign in the markets, a policy sharply
criticized by opposing political parties as
unlawful.
The latest development has therefore caught
the other political parties by surprise.
Luke Udeh, a chieftain of Labor party in
Onitsha said ‘Obi can never excel on the path
of keeping to his own rules. He is a bully‘.
Chief Amaechi Obidike, of APC did not pick
his calls. But Jude Nkputa of PDP said, since
Gov obi has decided to campaign in the
market everyone will now do so.