Anambra Traders Evangelism Group Laments Over Change Of Days of Prayers By ASMATA
By Oge Onyeanusi, Onitsha
Traders from all markets in Anambra State have expressed their grievances over the illtreatment melted on them by ASMATA leadership, and lamented on the change of days of praying activities in their various markets, following the dissolution of all the prayer management committees in all the markets in Anambra State by ASMATA President-General.
It could be recalled that praying activities normally organised on the days choosed by the Anambra State Market Evangelism Committee, in various markets till the recent ugly incident that took place at Old Motor Spears Parts Mgbuka Obosi where the members of Anambra Vigilante services and ASMATA Make Way Task Force invaded them during their prayer session and dispersed them and also stopped the prayer.
“We visited the President General of ASMATA in his office, to deliberate on his new agenda for monday prayer he choosed and he did not allow the prayer committee members to have a meeting with him.rather he choosed to manhandled us and one of their pastors was slaps and beaten up by ASMATA President despite their peaceful visit.
Reacting on the ugly development while speaking to Newsmen in Onitsha yesterday the Coordinator of Anambra State Market Evangelism Committee (ASMEC) Bro. Sylvanus Anosike who spoke on behalf of their members expressed sad over the beaten of their members and the negligence done by the ASMATA Boss Chief Humphrey Anuna, saying that they visited ASMATA office to sought how things will be done for the general welbeing.
Anosike said that their prayers in all markets normally held on Friday for years during the previous administrations in the state , but now the ASMATA boss wants to change it to be holding on Mondays, instead of Friday.
According to him , the order given to them by President General of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Humphrey Anuna , to start having their market prayers on Monday being sit-at-home is not a welcome development , as Monday have been allegedly declared sit-at-home in Igboland and in South East generally , to enable the Indigenous People of Biafra to asked for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kalu .
He listed some market that normally hold their prayers on Friday, this includes ; Head bridge, Ogboefere, Electrical, Building, Relief Market, Electronics, Ochanja and Main Market Onitsha
Anosike who also spoke on the some of paper issued to them as
“Notice of dissolution of the prayer unit/group in your market,” addressed to the Chairman of Mgbuka Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area, said: “With utmost respect to your person/ persons, ASMATA has officially dissolved the prayer unit/group in your market with immediate effect.
A letter also issued to them , which was dated August 10th 2023 signed by the President General of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Humphrey Anuma, and Secretary General, Ekwe Macaulay,have confirmed the development.
In another letter dated August 17, 2023 signed by the Secretary of the Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee of ASMATA, Sir Peter Okala, further confirmed the directive for the dissolution of the Payer Management Committees in all the markets in the state.
Anosike further called on the state government and also made an appeal to the Gov. Charlse Soludo, to look into their request and to intervene on their behalf.
In his swift reaction when contacted the President General of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA Chief Humphrey Anuna said he gave the directives in order restore normal Monday business activities in various markets in Anambra state.
Anuna who denied the allegations of maltreatment, pointed out that he wanted the prayer session to be used to introduce sanitation exercise and praying sessions in all markets in Anambra State.
