Protest Rocks Awka Market Over Alleged Imposition Of Levies

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."