Abia guber: Traders, traditional rulers endorse PPA candidate

Abia State traders, under the auspices of Abia State Traders
Association for Good Governance and some notable traditional
rulers have endorsed the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA)
gubernatorial candidate, Sir Chikwe Udensi, to become the
next governor.
The traders, who trooped out en masse on Sunday, at the
PPA’s campaign headquarters, in Aba, said their decision to
endorse Udensi was based on his unambiguous transformation
programme, which will reposition Abia State as well as
enhance trade, especially in Aba, the commercial nerve centre
of Igbo people.
Toeing the same are the traditional rulers of Obioma Ngwa,
HRH, Eze Ananaba and the Udi of Ossa Ibeku, HRH Eze
Onuigbo.
The two traditional rulers agreed with the traders that Udensi
has the leadership qualities to move Abia State forward, even
as they prayed for his success in the poll on February 28.
Speaking on behalf of the 28 market executives present at the
occasion, Chief Okaka said Abia traders, especially Aba had
suffered untold harassment, hardship and neglect from the
present government despite the huge revenue government
derived from the traders.
He decried the multiple taxation and levies forcefully imposed
on the traders by Abia State government, saying these have
subjected the traders to untold hardship, forcing most of them
to relocate to Imo and Akwa Ibom states.
He also said the traders, despite being tired of their situation
in Abia State, have collectively resolved to be passive
spectators in the February 28 gubernatorial election because
they have always been sidelined and overlooked by
government after every election for the obvious reason that
they are mostly non-indigenes and have been treated so.
He stated: “Sir Udensi, you are the reason we changed our
stand not to endorse any gubernatorial candidate. They said
we are non-indigenes, treated us with disdain, crippled our
businesses with multiple taxation and levies, yet abandoned
our business environments.
“Our wives, sons, daughters and fathers were discriminated
against, sacked from civil service without compensation. Our
property taken from us forcefully and we are made to live like
slaves in Igbo land.
“But after our meeting with you in your Abuja resident
sometime last year, we had to reconsider our stand because
your agenda sounds irresistible. We have not only come here
to endorse you but also to tell you that you have the votes of
all Abia traders and non-indigenes in the state.”
The traders also cited a case where a petty trader (a married
woman with her new born baby strapped to her back) with
goods less than N1, 000 was molested in a broad daylight by
the Abia State taskforce personnel and stripped because she
could not pay her levies on demand, saying this was one of
the daily humiliations they encountered in the hands of task
force personnel.
An emotional Udensi, while reacting, assured the traders of his
full support, promising to abolish all forms of levies and taxes
forcefully imposed on the traders.
He noted that he felt their pain because it was his father who
built Ariaria market as a principal officer in the old Imo State,
adding that as the Secretary General of ALGON in-charge of
774 local governments in Nigeria, he understands what
administration entails.
He said: “Under my watch as the governor of Abia State, taxes
and levies will be a thing of the past. I will create an enabling
environment that will ensure that traders sell their goods
rapidly.
“I will rebuild Ariaria market and other markets both in Aba,
Umuahia and other cities, provide Aba shoemakers with
sophisticated industrial machines that will elevate made in
Aba products to international standard. Traders will have the
full support of the government including soft scale loans with
little or no interest rate to enable them thrive in their chosen
trades.”
Udensi noted that everything he was putting on from head to
toe was made locally in Aba, insisting that with assistance
from government, Aba would live up to its name as the Japan
of Africa.
He decried the pitiful nature of Aba and the substandard living
in the city, saying that it is a pity that the tide had changed to
the extent that Abians have become houseboys/girls to the
Akwa Ibomites, who served them in the past.
He thereafter, introduced his running mate, in the person of
former commissioner for Agriculture, Abia State, Hon. Uche
Enyioko, to the delighted crowd and donated N1million and
100 bags of rice to the traders as Christmas gifts.