Massive protest rocked the commercial city of Onitsha, in Anambra State on Tuesday morning, after Governor Chukwuma Soludo ordered a one-week shutdown of the Onitsha Main market.
The Governor’s action followed the flaunting of his directive by the traders to end the protracted Mondays sit-at-home exercise.
But, the traders in turn grounded every other activities in the area, including banks and government offices.
The angry traders, mainly youths and upstarters took to the streets of the vast market, reputed as one of West Africa’s largest markets, and its other adjourning markets in the commercial city to express displeasure over the directive of the State Governor, calling for an immediate reversal of the order.
An Amateur video obtained by AIT crew shows some traders taking to the streets of the market, chanting praise songs of the jailed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
The traders could equally be heard chanting different songs including, “Governor Soludo show me the law” as well as “Free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu now”.
But, the protest remained largely peaceful, with no reported incident of violence, or clash with security operatives.
Some of the traders who spoke to Journalists expressed dissatisfaction with the Governor’s order, calling on the State Government to have a rethink.
Reports say, banks and government offices in Onitsha metropolis had locked-up on Tuesday as the protests gathered momentum, and spread outside of the Main market.
The Anambra State government has promptly reacted to the traders’ protest, describing it as unnecessary as the Governor’s directives for an end of the sit-at-home home exercise is in their best interest and the entire State.
Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Law Mefor spoke in Awka, the State capital on government’s action plan to end the Mondays sit-at-home in Onitsha Main market.
Security personnel were said to be on ground early in the morning to forestall any breakdown of law and order at the market, as shops were under lock and key.
The observance of Mondays sit-at-home order in Onitsha, the commercial capital of Anambra State has effectively affected the economy of both people and government, causing the loss of billions of Naira and a worsening socio-economic depression of the South East region of Nigeria.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
