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*traders, Okpoko Community invade Govt House to protest imposition of
agents, multiple taxes
Hundreds of placard-carrying members of the all powerful Onitsha
market traders’ association made up of importers and their clearing
agents yesterday invaded the Government House, Awka as the closure of
the one of its branches at the Old Motor Spareparts, Ugwuagba Obosi,
enters the fourth day.
The angry traders, who insisted on seeing Gov Peter Obi, said they
were protesting what they described as the imposition of multiple and
often dubious taxes on them by some persons under the garb of state
government revenue agents.
Simultaneously, another group from the Okpoko Community, a suburb of
Onitsha, led by Mr Felix Onunkwo, an elder in the area, also came to
register their anger over the non-conduct of Town Union elections that
became due long before now. They were averse to the continuous
appointment of Caretaker team to over see their affairs.
The importers led by Chief Titus Aninwa, carrying placards with
inscriptions like, “we are tired of illegal levies, we say no to
corruption”, “too many levies are killing our businesses”, ASMATA
please leave us alone”, insisted that oftentimes the revenue agents
invade their business premises with touts and armed security agents
and bully and intimidate them into parting with huge sums to escape
molestation. They disclosed that the agents who often come into the
markets in convoy of about 7 buses loaded with arms, machetes, clubs
and other dangerous weapons has threatened to harm anyone who dares
resist them.
One such revenue collection currently generating tension that could
boil over any moment include the ‘container levy’ of N2500 for a 20ft
container and N5000 for a 40ft container, as against the loading and
off-loading of containers, which was well-known to them.
The Okpoko citizens said they came to express their anger over the
latest imposition of another team of Caretaker executive to oversee
their affairs after the community had concluded plans with the
immediate past Caretaker team led by Godwin Ehiobu, to conduct formal
election to chose their leaders who would overee to their welfare.
That any new foisting of handpicked officers on the 42 constituting
communities in the area would breed more crises.
The Secretary to the State Government(SSG), Chief Oseloka Obaze who
received them in turns, assured the traders that the government was
very much aware of their complaint and has been working behind the
seen to apprehend all the culprits as well as the security officers
being used.
He also told the Okpoko community to expect the government action
soon. Thereafter he went into a closed door meeting with all their
leaders to formulate ways of ensuring the crises did not boil over.
