Onitsha Traders Seek Audience With Soludo, Appeal For Reopening Of Markets

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

TRADERS at the Onitsha Main Market and adjoining markets, which were shut down last Monday by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for observing the weekly sit-at-home order, have resolved to meet with the governor to appeal for forgiveness and the reopening of the markets.

The decision was reached at a closed-door meeting held on Tuesday at the Onitsha Main Market Secretariat, popularly known as the White House.

The meeting was attended by executives of the affected markets and key stakeholders, who expressed optimism that the governor would grant them an audience.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Chief Chijioke Okpalaugo, confirmed that a formal letter had been written to Governor Soludo requesting a meeting.

“A letter has been written. We are going to see the governor and appeal to him for forgiveness,” Okpalaugo said. “We have just concluded our meeting, and we are appealing to him to consider reopening the markets. We are losing a lot as a result of the Monday sit-at-home.”

He said the traders had resolved to meet the governor within the week to plead for clemency, noting that the continued closure of the markets was inflicting severe economic losses on traders.

Describing Governor Soludo as a progressive-minded leader, Okpalaugo said the governor’s decision to shut the markets was timely and aimed at discouraging compliance with the sit-at-home order.

“The governor loves his people, and his decision is a good one because he took it at the right time,” he said. “What he intends is to push us to stop observing the Monday sit-at-home, and he has done that.”

The market chairman dismissed reports of protests against the market closure, describing those allegedly involved as miscreants. He also appealed to the governor to reopen the markets before the next Monday.

Okpalaugo further recalled that government officials had earlier warned traders to open for business on Monday or risk the closure of the markets, a directive which was eventually enforced by the governor.

It would be recalled that Governor Soludo, while ordering an initial one-week closure of the markets, had warned that the sanction could be extended to one month if traders failed to comply with the directive to resume business on Mondays.