Nasarawa Traders Accuse Govt Officials Of Complicity Over Association Leadership Tussle
BY AHMED TUKUR, LAFIA – Aggrieved Traders in Nasarawa State, under the auspices of Nasarawa State Marketers and Traders Association (MTAN), are accusing Governor Abdullahi Sule-led administration of complicity in the current leadership crisis rocking the body.
The traders said for fear of paying their money into the wrong hands, they are stopping payment of revenue and other levies until the crisis is resolved.
Their demand is that government should make a formal pronouncement on the Association’s genuine leaders in line with its constitution.
Most of them claimed that government’s refusal to make a definite statement about the warring factions is quite disturbing and they need urgent clarification on who to deal with as the recognized MTAN executives.
A shop owner in the new market, Suleiman Umaru, said the traders are confused about whom they should relate with and pay their taxes to avoid double payment.
Forefront checks indicate the Shammsu Danstoho-led executives that have spent about seven years in office are accusing the Turaki Gamji-led caretaker committee of being an illegal body.
But the Gamji-led faction has challenged them to approach the court and claim their mandate. It was gathered that the Gamji faction was inaugurated few months back following allegations of embezzlement and misappropriation of levelled against the Shammasu- led team.
Reacting to current developments, treasurer of the Shammasu faction, Mohammed Sirajo accused the State government of supporting illegality by encouraging non-members to hijack the association’s leadership
According to Sirajo, the state government’s refusal to intervene in the crisis despite several communications with Secretary to the State Government (SSG) only confirms its complicity in the crisis.
He blamed government indifference as being responsible for their members’ accusations, adding that laid down procedures were adhered to in bringing the executive to office.
Sirajo maintained that until their tenure expires in September this year and elections conducted, those parading as executive members are mere imposters.
“The attitude of the government has left us in no doubt that its grand design is to impose some people as executives of their association through the back door.”
However, in a swift reaction, the Gamji-led body said the newly inaugurated Caretaker Committee has dared the Shammasu faction to challenge his leadership if they are aggrieved.
Defending himself as a bonafide member of the association, duly recognized by government, Gamji said his executive is the authentic leadership of the traders’ union with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) certificate of registration.
“Within our few months of being in office, we have been able to register the association with CAC to enable us have a bank account for accountability which was not the case before now”, he said
Gamji said a new office has been opened for the association with the Caretaker Committee ready to ensure accountability while also taking adequate care of its members’ welfare.
He claimed their leadership currently enjoys government’s backing, adding that the National President of the association was in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital to inaugurate the Union’s new office recently.
He further assured that his executive is at the helms of affair with eyes on repositioning the association for development going forward.