BY CHIKA OKEKE
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has kicked against the directive by Anambra State government to shutdown Onitsha Main Market over the trader's compliance with Monday sit-at-home order.
To this end, IPOB directed all markets to open on Tuesday, January 27, describing the sit-at-home as a civil disobedience and silent protest against injustice.
Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo had on Monday ordered the immediate closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week, following the traders’ continued compliance with IPOB's directive on sit-at-home.
Shortly after inspecting the market, the governor noted that the shutdown was a direct response to the failure of the market leadership to open on Mondays against the government’s directive.
The governor warned that if traders failed to open at the expiration of the one-week shutdown, the market would be closed for another week and subsequently for longer periods.
He noted that the directive was the latest and most drastic approach to determine who controls time and economic life in the Southeast on Mondays.
The governor said: "And let me tell you this: as I’m speaking to you now, when I finish this (inspection); this whole main market and all the adjoining markets will be locked down for the whole of this week.
"There will be no market anywhere here. Are you hearing me? Each Monday, we’ll come and inspect. If people are not in their respective shops, they will be shut down again.
"If you like it, I don’t mind shutting down Main Market for the remainder of this year. If you don’t like it, go elsewhere and trade, but if you’re here, we’re not going to allow this.
"It’s plain economic sabotage, and also we suspect whoever closes their shop to have some criminal intent."
Soludo lamented that the government cannot stand by while a few individuals wilfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy.
"I’m just from Awka; everywhere is open. Government offices are open. Markets are open, and people are going about their businesses. Then you’ll come down to Main Market, the once-reputed market as the largest market in West Africa.
"This can no longer go on in Anambra. Are you hearing me? And I will tell you this: you either decide that you want to trade here or you can go elsewhere.
"This main market, if you don’t want it open, I will come and take a bulldozer and level it. Are you hearing me? And I’m very, very serious about it. I’m not joking."
IPOB Dares Soludo
But in a statement on Monday, IPOB's spokesman, Emma Powerful described the governor’s action as disappointing and unacceptable, urging residents to defy the closure and resume trading on Tuesday.
It reads: "It is therefore disappointing and unacceptable that Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo—who once visited Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in detention and knows the truth—has chosen to turn around and threaten the same people he swore to protect, merely to impress Abuja interests that have never prioritised the wellbeing of the Igbo race.
"Governor Soludo must understand that the sit-at-home remains what it has always been: a civil disobedience and silent protest against injustice.
"If Governor Soludo understands democracy, he should know that democracy is not measured by intimidation, task forces, or threats. Democracy is measured by respect for the freedom of thought, conscience, and lawful protest.
The IPOB renewed call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu saying that: "The solution is straightforward: Release Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Until that is done, the demand for justice will not disappear. We urge all Ndị Igbo to remain peaceful, disciplined and focused. This struggle is moral, lawful and historic—and intimidation will not stop a people determined to be free.”
Sit-at-home Order
The sit-at-home order, which has been in place for over four years, marred economic and social activities in parts of the South-East.
It was enforced by IPOB as a response to the incarceration of leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and threats to restore Biafra Republic.
Though killings associated with IPOB have reduced in Southeast but traders are skeptical to open on Mondays over fear of attack.
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