Anambra Traders Rally Support For Soludo’s Second Term Bid
Anambra State Amalgamated Market Traders Association (ASMATA) has declared their support for the reelection bid of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.
The traders across the seven market zones in the state declared their support at a rally held in Onitsha, the commercial capital of Anambra on Sunday.
The event started with a special thanksgiving at the Holy Trinity Catholic Cathedral led by the President General of ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna.
Anuna said the thanksgiving was to glorify God for what he had been doing in the lives of traders and the transformational leadership Anambra was experiencing under Soludo.
Speaking at the rally, Anuna said ASMATA was proud to associate with the government of Soludo adding that it was a privilege to be part of his success story
According to him, we traders are critical to the development of this state, we are major contributors.
“We have moved our annual revenue form N400 million to more than N9 billion and all the market leaders here are the ones that are making it happen,” he said
Anuna said he was not worried by the activities of detractors who were not only distracting ASMATA leadership but embarrassing Anambra State Government.
He said those people have gone ahead to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC,) against him and some market Chairmen even when the state government who gave them job was satisfied with ASMATA.
The President General insisted that he would not go back on stopping all illegal revenue collections and ensuring that every money meant to the government was remitted to it.
“I am aware of the plot to destabilise my leadership with all types of allegations but make sure you have your evidence because clear conscience fears no accusation.
“They even invited market leaders to Abuja but I said it is not possible, rather I will represent them because we do not have resources to fund such trips.
“ASMATA is for All Progressives Grand Alliance, ASMATA is for Soludo, we shall work for his second term because he is doing well,” he said.
Addressing the traders, Mr Evarist Uba, Special Adviser to Soludo on Markets said the government was impressed with the contribution of ASMATA under Anuna to the development of the state.
Uba who reeled out the numerous projects of the Soludo administration said traders would always enjoy priority attention because of their strategic importance to the government.
He urged the market community to continue to give their support to Soludo and his team and ensure that he returned in 2025 to continue his good works.
Also at the event was Mr Samuel Chinedu, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Trade and Commerce and ASMATA stakeholders.
