Onitsha Market Closure: Ebonyi Traders Reject Planned Protest, back Soludo

Indigenes of Ebonyi State trading in Anambra State have distanced themselves from any planned protest over the closure of the Onitsha Main Market, declaring full support for Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s insistence on full commercial activities on Mondays.

The Ebonyi Town Union in Anambra State made its position known in a statement issued by its President-General, Moses Igwe, in Onitsha on Friday.

Igwe urged Ebonyi traders to avoid actions capable of disrupting public peace or endangering their lives and businesses.

He said the Monday business policy of Soludo was designed to protect traders’ interests and strengthen the state’s economy, stressing that repeated market closures only deepen losses for traders.

He said, “Closing markets every Monday is not helping anyone. It is even more damaging to the traders themselves. Sit-at-home actions would not secure the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

“Non-indigenes, particularly Ebonyi traders, often bear the brunt whenever protests turn violent. We advise our kinsmen to completely disassociate themselves from any form of demonstration against government policy.

“Ebonyi people are peace-loving, law-abiding residents who have enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Soludo administration.

“Governor Soludo is a brother and a friend to Ebonyians. His government has shown us goodwill.”

Igwe pointed to appointments given to Ebonyi indigenes in the state government and the construction of a general hospital in Okpoko—home to a large Ebonyi population—as clear evidence of the administration’s inclusive governance.

“Ebonyi indigenes in Okpoko are major beneficiaries of the general hospital built by this administration. No Ebonyi man or woman should go against the directives of a government that has supported us,” he added.

He therefore called on traders across Anambra State to fully resume business on Mondays, emphasising that economic stability and peaceful coexistence, not protests, remain the surest path to collective progress.

Punch Online reported on Thursday that traders at the Onitsha Main Market and other markets across the state had pledged to effectively end the Monday sit-at-home and declared readiness to resume full activities on Mondays in line with the directive of Soludo.

They gave the assurance during an interactive session with the governor following the closure of the Onitsha Main Market and the prolonged Monday sit-at-home that has crippled commercial and economic activities in the South-East.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the meeting, the Chairman of the Onitsha Main Market, Chijioke Okpalugo, said traders were prepared to commence Monday operations in support of the governor’s vision of a “One Anambra,” but appealed for enhanced security to guarantee the safety of lives and property.