APGA chieftain backs Soludo’s one-week closure of Onitsha marketing

A chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr Chinedu Obigwe, has thrown his weight behind the decision of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra to shutdown Onitsha Main Market for one week.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Soludo had directed the closure of the market on Monday during a visit to evaluate the compliance with the order to end the protracted Monday sit-at-home in parts of the state.

Soludo said the market would continue to be shut for the rest of the week if traders did not open on Monday, insisting that the culture must end.

Obigwe, who is the National Coordinator of APGA Media Warriors Forum, on Tuesday, said those supporting the shutdown of business in Anambra were the real enemies of Anambra and the entire Southeast.

He said Soludo should be commended for taking bold steps to end Monday’s sit-at-home menace, as it had dealt a heavy blow on the economy of the zone.

He wondered why the Monday sit-at-home was not being observed in Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia but continued to exist in Anambra.

He said those dropping the name of Nnamdi Kanu as a reason for continued observance of sit-at-home were deceits, clutching on the name to perpetrate criminality and cripple Igbo economy.

“As a matter of fact, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu stated in a widely circulated press release that he is not in support of the Monday sit-at-home order and has advised our people to put an end to it.

“The people claiming that they are doing it as a civil disobedience measure to protest the detention of Nnamdi Kanu are deceiving themselves.

“Those saying that Soludo should fight for Kanu’s release from detention instead of fighting to end Monday’s sit-at-home are being economical with the truth,” he said.

Obigwe said Soludo had been a leading voice in the clamour for the release of Nnamdi Kanu and that the governor’s efforts to restore the economy of Anambra should be supported by all people of goodwill.

He said the action of Soludo was in line with the position of Nnamdi Kanu, who had long disowned the shutdown of businesses.

“Governor Soludo is the first governor in Igbo land to call for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu.

“When he came in as Anambra Governor, he paid Nnamdi Kanu a visit at DSS detention facility and had a frank discussion with him.

“People of Anambra and those resident in the State should support the governor’s efforts to end the Monday sit-at-home because it is for the good of our State.

“Soludo is doing marvellously well in our State, and we must support his policies to enable him to do more for us. Let us say no to Monday sit-at-home to revive the economy of our state,” he said.

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ValidViewNetwork reports that traders at the Onitsha Market in Anambra State have reportedly launched a protest on Tuesday following the one-week closure of the market ordered by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

Traders flooded the market premises with placards, chanting solidarity songs and expressing support for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

In other videos, they were seen chanting, “Soludo, we no go gree o,” “Say no to Monday,” among others.

NAN