ASMATA PG commends Mgbuka market for refurbishing abandoned refuse evacuation vehicle

By Uzo Ugwunze

The President General, PG, Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna, has commended the executives of Mgbuka Obosi Old Motor Spareparts market, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, led by its chairman, Chief Samuel Ifurunwa, following the refurbishing of abandoned moribund refuse evacuation tipper in the market.

The ASMATA PG made the commendation through his Media director, Mrs Chinwe Nwacha, when the market chairman on arriving the market with the vehicle, displayed it for traders to inspect which prompted them to rush out in their large number, and started singing solidarity song for him and thanked God for giving them a philanthropist as leader adding that on assumption of office he changed the market narratives for better welfare of the traders.

In the words of the ASMATA PG, “I am not surprise for the refurbishing of the tipper for evacuation of refuse in the market because your chairman, (a.k.a. Igwe Orumba), is a born achiever who doesn’t leave any stone unturned in moving forward.

“This is one of the many good things he has done in the market and we in government know he is performing. He won prize for the market on IGR generation and restored peace in the market. He is the type of market leader we want and he needs your support to keep the flag flying,” the PG stated.

Speaking on what informed his refurbishing of the tipper, Chief Ifurunwa who lauded the PG for his contribution towards moving markets in the state forward, disclosed that, the tipper was an abandoned moribund refuse disposal vehicle owned by the market, stating that he resolved to refurbish the vehicle following lack of evacuating refuse vehicle in the market.

” This is our old refuse disposal vehicle I inherited that has been abandoned without working on it by the past administrations and so I took it to the mechanic at Nkpor, for refurbishing. We changed almost everything in the vehicle and it turned to a new brand one, it belongs to our market. “However, to repair to this standard cost us a whopping sum of about #6.7 million,” he disclosed.

On the sources of the fund he revealed that, “In collaboration with stakeholders that always listen to me, we were able to raise the money.

Also on what informed the repair of the vehicle the market boss reiterated that it was prompted by lack of evacuation refuse vehicle stating that at the end of sanitation exercise carried out every second week of Thursday, hired vehicle evacuated the refuse at a very exorbitant price.

“We have 20-man market sweepers in our employ who sweep all nooks and crannies of Mgbuka market on daily basis and packed the waste in nylon bags ready for disposal. Whoever that doesn’t participate in the sanitation exercise especially on clean up days our peace committee will sanction such an offender to serve as deterrent to will be future offenders,” he affirmed.

According to him leaders must live by example and have cordial relationship with their subjects stating that it is what Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and President General, PG, Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna, taught the people for better living.

” According to the duo you will not have problem with your position so long you are not selfish but rather always care for their interest and show love in carrying out your duty as a leader who has come to serve them and not to intimidate them with your position that is not permanent,” he further explained

Commending the market chairman for the tipper he brought to life, Hon. Ogochukwu Oguagbaka, the secretary of the market, said, “We are very happy, this our vehicle that left here early February, and our chairman told us that he was ashamed of the vehicle. It was taken to Nkpor for refurbishing and it gulped all the money realized in our market.

“We spent a lot of money on waste disposal but now that we have gotten a tipper such extravagant spending has stopped as any money realized will be used for maintenance of our own vehicle.

“The vehicle has for long been abandoned even before the incumbent chairman came on board with his executives but we have now renewed it,” he stated

Reacting, the Public Relations Officer, Pastor Chinedu Ugwu, said that everyone was happy for the chairman for repairing the vehicle abandoned by successive administrations.

“Now our tiper is available, any time you come to Mgbuka, you will even sleep on the neat ground because of the sanitation we carry out constantly. The procurement of the vehicle, is bye bye to refuse.

“Our chairman is capable and I am sure he is ready to maintain the vehicle. Before now he paid for the evacuation of refuse in the market and other financial obligations,” he disclosed.

Comrade Emmanuel Odumegwu, Personal Assistant, PA to the chairman, stated that, “I am so happy for the tipper, our chairman is God sent to curtail our problem. I gave him 99 per cent in terms of performance in the market He carries everybody along, both the good and bad, he makes sure that everyone is happy.

“Since he assumed office in Mgbuka, everything is in order. He is doing perfectly well, anything he wants us to do, we must do it for him, we respect him very well,” he hinted.

Recall that the former chairman of the market and now the Idemili zonal chairman, Chief Emmanuel Obiagwu, purchased the vehicle for refuse disposal as part of curtailing the traders’refuse disposal quagmire then.