Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, has said that some politicians are behind the fresh Monday sit-at-home protests that took place in some parts of the South East.
He described the shutdown as an intentional attempt to interfere with the state’s economic activity and especially identified Nnewi and Onitsha Main Market as the locations most impacted.
The weekly shutdown of these important markets “is not a coincidence but a coordinated effort by individuals he called enemies of the state and the South East region,” Governor Soludo said during a press conference at the Light House in Awka.
He stressed that the development “will not be tolerated by his administration” and described it as “economic sabotage.”
The governor cautioned merchants that the Onitsha Main Market’s one-week suspension, which was imposed last Monday, would stay in place and might be prolonged by an extra two weeks if the market does not reopen on a Monday following the expiration of the current sanction.
Additionally, he disregarded traders’ threats to sue the state government for closing the market.
“Onitsha Main Market belongs to the Anambra State Government and the government has the legal authority to take decisions over its use in the interest of public safety and order,” Soludo stated, outlining the government’s jurisdiction over the issue.
He said that the government may “take over the market for overriding public interest, pay compensation, and revoke shop ownership rights” if needed.
The governor questioned the timing of the sit-at-home instructions, pointing out that there were no significant security problems throughout the Christmas and New Year’s period and the market was open.
Before the New Year’s festivities, “business activities were booming in the market every Monday and even on Sundays,” he noted.
