Excerpts:
How have you faired
in the last one year in office.
I thank God for the grace and mercy; the Lord has given to
me, especially the wisdom to manage the affairs of NASPA market in Nnewi. It is
not an easy feat, but God has been faithful. I want to also thank the traders
in NASPA for the cooperation they have given to my administration, without
which, it would have been a difficult task for me to run the market
effectively. I want to let the world
know, that what people actually want in life is someone that will tell them the
truth at all times. Truth is the bedrock of my administration, being reason,
what I say in the morning, is what I will say in the afternoon and if you call
me in the evening, I will tell you the same thing. My administration is anchored
on truth and transparency.
What can you say are
your achievements in the last one year?
Thank you for that question. I have at every point in time,
made it known to anyone who cares to listen that the major reason I am serving
as the NASPA chairman is to deliver service to the people. My mandate is to
make sure that the market is clean, the gutters are cleared of refuse and the
internal roads in the market are in good shape. All these I have done in the
last one year, with dexterity and commitment. I have ensured that the park we
have in NASPA is renovated and kept in good shape. I repaired and restored
internal roads in the market, which before now where impassable, such as the
roads in zone 6 and 7, zone 5 and 4, zone 2 and 3, zone 15 and 14, zone 14 and
13, and most importantly curtain line, which comprises of zone 17,18, 15, 21,
22 and fire service line with over 100 bags of sand and chippings. I have also initiated
action to tar the road linking the market from Nwagbala, by Diamond Bank Plc,
which will be concluded by the end of November this year. I did all these without tasking anybody in the
market for aid. I make bold to say that my achievements in the last one year,
have surpassed the achievements of the many past Chairmen of NASPA, as the
records are obvious, which can also be verified. It is only in the last one
year, that nobody has complained of flooding or water entering their shops. A
feat that has not happened in the last 10 years. You can also go round and ask
traders in the market.
Sir, it was said that
you diverted funds meant for government purse, how true is this??
That is not true my friend. People that feed you with that
lie do not have a reputation to protect. I have one to protect, so I must tell
you the true situation of things, as it stands in the market, because most of
the speculations are mere fabrication, because I am doing a good job here in
the market. This is what happened.
Anambra state government gave me authority letter to collect tax for the
government for 2016/2017 fiscal year. It happened that the head of all market
leaders in Nnewi, Chief Edwin Mouzuomu, called a meeting of all market leaders,
which I attended with my secretary. In the meeting Chief Edwin Mouzuomu asked us to print
temporary receipts, which we will be using to collect revenue for government,
pending when we get the original receipt from government. The receipt is what I
am still using up till this moment. I collected N16M and paid in N10M to ensure
that the funds were confirmed by the state government before we pay the balance
of the N6M, because we had an issue of loss of funds, so I wanted to be very
sure, that the N10 I paid was confirmed before paying in the balance, which the
government of Anambra state appreciated. I did not divert any funds, and won’t want to
because, I don’t have need to take public funds, because I am contended with
what I have. The true situation is gradually playing out; you will get to hear
from DSS on the matter soon.
Why are some people
asking for election in the market?
Those asking for election in the market are the people that
are fighting the government; they are the same people who have insisted that
they will not pay tax, because of the ban of Okada in Anambra state. They say
they must stage a riot in the market, which I refused. They say I am not
fighting the government, so therefore, I must be removed. I want to let them
know, that leadership is not about fighting government but rather, it is about
attracting the attention of government, which I am doing, on the issue of Okada
ban in the state, which is gradually yielding results.
What is your watch
word for traders in NASPA.
I want to thank them for the support they have given me in
the last one year. Without their support, I don’t think, I would have been able
to do any meaningful thing in the market. I urge them to remain steadfast as
the best is yet to come. I also call on others who are fighting my
administration to come and join hands to build the market, because we all own
and live for NASPA. I also want to thank in a special way, Chief Dr Innocent
Chukwuma( Ifediaso Nnewi) Iyom Bianca Ojukwu and RT Austin Emmanuel for the
support they have given me in the last one year.