From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Thousands of traders in over 105 markets in Anambra State have declared their full backing for the re-election of Governor Chukwuma Soludo for a second term in office.
The traders, under the aegis of the Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), at an event on Saturday, August 23, at the Justice Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha, tagged “A day of celebration with Anambra traders in appreciation of Soludo’s good works”, also donated N10 million to the governor for transport logistic support during the governorship election campaigns.
President General of ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna, in a remark, said that traders in the state have prospered under the Soludo administration because of his intentional approach to development and enduring peace, which his administration has fostered in the markets.
Anuna noted that with the One Youth, Two Skills initiative of the Soludo administration, many apprentice traders have graduated into budding entrepreneurs and have also established various businesses with the skills learnt from the programme.
Patrons of ASMATA, Chief Jude Nwankwo (Ocho Udo) and Chief Jude Agumadu (Baby Awka), in their separate remarks, noted that Soludo has made great impact in different sectors like urban renewal, road infrastructure, health facilities, and education, noting that the construction of access roads in Awka and Onitsha has made it easier for traders both within Anambra and those who come from outside the state to engage in seamless commercial activities without stress.
The traders also praised the establishment of Agunechemba and Udo ga Achi operatives whose activities, in conjunction with other security agencies, have helped in restoring security in the state with a consequent boom in economic activities.
“We have agreed unanimously that Soludo is our candidate and nobody else. Traders will suffer in Anambra State if Soludo is not re-elected. Saturday, November 8, 2025, is a done deal for us,” they chorused.
Governor Soludo, while responding, told the traders that the state government under his watch will continue to partner with them for the continuous transformation of the state. He said that he has been intentional in his push for a recreated and regenerated Anambra when he applied for the job of governor and will never lose focus.
He restated the fact that his administration has not borrowed funds since its inception despite all the development projects, noting that to sustain the tempo of development in the state requires the collective effort of all stakeholders, of which the traders constitute a very significant part.
He disclosed plans to harmonise levies and taxes across all sectors in the state in such a way as to prevent multiple taxation and duplicity of revenue drives between the local government, state government, and other agencies, and reiterated that petty traders, barrow pushers, hawkers, and other low-income earners in the state have been exempted from paying taxes and daily tolls in the state.
He charged the traders to remain vigilant while maintaining the values of hard work and enterprise as opposed to the get-rich-quick syndrome leading some youths into “okeite” and “yahoo boys” syndrome.
