Protest rocks Awka market over alleged imposition of levies
Awka— BUSINESS activities at the popular Eke-Awka market were brought to a standstill yesterday as female traders protested alleged imposition of levies by a faction of the leadership in the market.
There are two factions in the market and leadership tussle had lingered there for a long time.
The factions are led by Mr. Emeka Jude Agumadu and Nze Christian Igwebuike Chinwuko, who are both claiming to be the authentic leaders in the market.
While Agumadu was elected chairman in July this year, Chinwuko claimed that he had been named the caretaker chairman of the market.
Leader of the protesting women, Mrs. Chinwe Ezeigwe, told reporters yesterday that the women in the market decided to carry out the protest to drive home their rejection of the levy being imposed on them by a factional leader in the market.
She said: “Our protest is to let the women and even men in the market know that the levy imposed on us is a fraud and that we will not pay it.
“We want the state government to look into the matter and send back the person brought by Awka South local government chairman who imposed the levy.
“We know our leader who we all queued up behind and voted for in July as the chairman. So, for these people to come here and be telling us that they want to collect levies, we will not accept it.”
However, the leader of Awka South Market Amalgamated Traders Union, ASMATU, Chief Anayo Nweke, told reporters that all the allegations of levy imposition were false.
He said: “Those women were hired and paid to protest in the market.”
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