T.A Orji
For refusing to give him N2m gratification, The Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ariaria International market, Mr. Lucky Akubueze has illegally dissolved the elected executives of the market as well as threatened to use his connection with the governor to descend heavily on them.
Mr. Akubueze who is a close relative of the governor of Abia state, Chief T.A Orji was also accused of using the Abia State Vigilante Service popularly referred to as Bakassi Boys to harass the elected officials of the market which according to them is unacceptable.
The City Reporters gathered that trouble started when on resumption as the elected executives of the A-D sub union of Ariaria market, Mr. Akubueze demanded a gratification of N2m from the traders with a threat to make things difficult for them should they fail to comply.
In a petition addressed to the Abia state commissioner for Commerce and Industry and signed by the chairman of A-D sub union, Chief Cyril Jubulu, the secretary, Mrs. Eugenia Adikuru and 23 others obtained by The City Reporters, the traders said Mr. Akubueze constantly boast that as a relation to the Abia state governor; he can do anything in the market and go unpunished.
Part of the petition read, “We wish to inform you that against the wishes of members of the zone and not minding the attendant consequences, Mr. Lucky Akubueze, acting above his powers purportedly dissolved an elected executive of A-D sub union and announced the splitting of the zone into two.
“As elected executives and members of the zone, we reject in its entirety the purported dissolution of the executives of our zone because Mr. Lucky Akubueze as an appointed chairman has no powers to dissolve elected officials whose tenure have not ended.
“Against the lies he told us that he was acting on behalf of the governor, we are aware that government did not send him to demand a gratification of N2m from the zone, the rejection of which is the bedrock of his illegitimate actions.”
They also lamented how Mr. Akubueze purportedly prepared placards that falsely convey the message that the traders were against the PDP government in Abia State, describing the action as the height of treachery.
When contacted, Akubueze denied the allegations saying no zone in the market had up to N2m in its account presently and wondered why he should be accused of demanding money the zone does not have.
He however said the zone was divided into two because of its large size but reaffirmed his resolution to deal with the traders as alleged.
“In fact I would not because of the allegation deny the fact that (Gov) T.A (Orji) is my brother. To be candid, one of these days, I am going to seek audience with him and after tabling this matter before him; I would then come and deal with these recalcitrant former executives of the zone,” he boasted.
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