Anambra State’s Governor Charles Soludo has threatened to demolish, acquire and reallocate shops of traders shutting businesses due the Monday sit-at-home declared by the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
He issued the warning in a state broadcast he had Wednesday January 28.
On Monday, January 26, the Governor ordered the closure of the popular Onitsha main market after some traders closed their shops in obedience to the directive of the IPOB leader.
The secessionist group observes a sit-at-home every Monday in solidarity with their incarcerated leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Economic activities are paralysed as shops and business ventures are closed anytime the sit-at-home order is observed.
Following the shutting down of the market, some aggrieved traders staged a protest yesterday, January 27, demanding the reopening of the market.
While speaking in the state broadcast, Governor Soludo, said: ‘’This is about our security because if you deny 20% of the work days in a year, you are dampening our prosperity, jobs that need to be created, incomes that need to be earned, that is what this is about and it should simple to understand by everybody. 2024/2025, we have been very patient. 2022/2023, we were busy fighting all of this. 2026, we are turning on gear 4.
“Anybody that closes their shop, we will help you close it for the next week. If you like holidays, we will help you.
“Going forward, we will now come after and take those from you and give to those who are ready to use it. At least we have some powers in that regard.
“If the market cannot open because it is your private thing, I also have powers to revoke your ownership of that place in public interest. We are going to be deploying this in the coming weeks.
“We are still open for conversations but as for keeping those shops open, there is no negotiations about it. ‘’
He stated that he will be having a meeting with some of the market leaders and that if any other market fails to open for business next Monday, February 2, he will close such a market maybe for two weeks.
The Governor further alleged that insecurity was no longer the reason behind the sit-at-home because, “Markets were opened all through the days of the week in Christmas and new year. So, why did they decide to shutdown now? Also, all the street traders are seeing on Mondays. People engage on walkouts on Mondays, play football and other activities.”
