In the petition, titled "Coalition of 11 out of 13 members of Bridge Head Market Traders Association Caretaker Committee," they apologised to the governor for what they called the chairman's bad behaviour. They said that the chairman had taken $1.6 million from traders by himself.
Eight people are said to have died in a chemical explosion on November 8, 2022. The traders he is said to have extorted were the ones who offered to tear down their 32 shops so the excavators could get to the fire and put it out.
He was said to have started rebuilding those shops that had been destroyed without permission, so the governor told him to stop.
"This extortion became the main reason why people didn't follow government orders, which was a lie that embarrassed not only the traders at Bridge Head Market but also the whole government of Anambra State."
Before, we had written to Mr. Governor about Hon. Chinedu Ezekwike's arrogance, theft of association funds, and ignoring of all committee officers and members in running the association.
"Knowing full well that a government is only as good as its people,"
"In order for the IGR to work and to make sure that the criminal looting of government revenues by Mr. Sunday Obinze's regime doesn't happen again, Mr. Governor would set up an investigation not only into Hon. Ezekwike but also into Obinze's regime," they said.
They also hinted that while the governor was approving the letter to Mr. Governor about Ezekwike, a new set of sacrilegious and unsuitable actions by Ezekwike quickly came to light.
They told the Governor that 11 of the 13 committee members had broken with Ezekwike and his predecessor, Mr. Sunday Obinze, over his disregard for the law and disrespect for established authorities.
They gave high praise to the governor and said that, despite the actions of Hon. Ezekwike and his fellow travellers, the partnership they have with the current government of their dreams has not changed.
Chief Peter Okeke, Mr. John Nwosu, Comrade Paschal Ezekwere, Sir Nobert Okoli, Hon. Obinna Umeh, Sir Peter Okala, Chief Bonaventure Ucheagwu, Hon. Chimezie Ohaii, Mrs. Martina Uzowulu, Hon. Odera Nwosu, and Mr. Chibuike Okereke were said to have petitioned the governor.
The petition was sent to the chairman of the Bridge Head Market Traders Association (B.O.T.) and the president general of the Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association (Anambra State Traders Association).
(ASMATA).
When he was contacted, the chairman in trouble, Ezekweike, admitted that he had a copy of the petition, but he denied the accusations made against him. He said that he had never tried to extort the traders, but that the governor had told him to stop working, which he did.
"Mr. Governor personally called me on the phone, and we talked as father and son. He told me to stop working, which I did. "If they say I extorted the traders whose shops were destroyed, let them show proof of that," he said.
He also admitted that a petition signed by 11 committee members was sent to the governor, but he said that it was possible that not all 11 members were against him.
