By Jude Atupulazi
The Deputy Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sir Pius Chuma Okoye, has been exonerated from the skirmishes ravaging Eke Market, Amawbia, Awka South LGA of Anambra State. This was made public by the Chairman of Eke Amawbia Market, Mr. Dan Nwokoye, Saturday 15 June.
The market leader rather described his relationship with the Deputy Speaker as cordial and blamed those he described as disgruntled elements at the market for fanning the embers of discord over an issue that had since been controlled.
Mr Nwokoye said the idea of establishing the Eke Amawbia Market was mooted by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon Okoye, after which, he, Nwokoye, introduced it to the Awka South Local Government, the Town Union and Market Union, which all bought the idea, leading to the present status of the market.
‘The Deputy Speaker, through the Town Union, brought in many developers who made the market what it looks like today. We love him as an illustrious son of this community with a great idea,’ Nwokoye said.
Reeling out the problems of the market, Nwokoye attributed them to those he called Judas, who, he said, went about spoiling his image before the Deputy Speaker and also creating a bad image of the Market Union in order to get cheap popularity.
He said it led to his suspension for two months in order for them to address and solve their problems, noting that the suspension was yet to be lifted. He however expressed the hope that the suspension would be lifted by those in the power corridors.
‘I am using this medium to thank our Rt. Hon, Sir Pius Chuma Okoye, for what he is doing in our Awka South II. Last week he commissioned a borehole he sunk at Nibo and a Public Health Centre he built at Mgbakwu, as well as empowering some widows, the poor and the needy, who he pays salaries. May God bless him,’ the market leader prayed.
Meanwhile, some members of the market, in their reaction, also absolved the Deputy Speaker of any involvement in the problems of the market. One of them, Ozo Emma Okoye, a wine dealer at the market, said that as an Ozo titled person in Amawbia, Rt. Hon Okoye could never soil his hand in Eke Amawbia Skirmishes.
He described Hon Okoye as a peacemaker and a man of his words, as well as a community builder.
Also the Secretary of the market, Mr. Victor Okoyea, extolled what he described as the good virtues of Rt. Hon Okoye and said that his hands were not in what was happening at the market.
Mrs. Eunice Okoye, the leader of women in the market, for her part, said Ozo Chuma Okoye was a leader with a difference and promised that all women in the market would always support him in his political journey.
Ichie Emeka Agbi, the Chief Security Officer of the market, also exonerated the Deputy Speaker from any role behind the market’s problems and accused those he called the Judas in their midst who, according to him, wanted to reap were they did not sow.
The Chairman, Mr. Dan Nwokoye, finally urged the Market Union to remain calm and pray for the attainment of what he called final peace at the market, even as he prayed God to give Rt. Hon Okoye the wisdom to pilot the affairs of Awka South II.
