- Safiu Kehinde
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has shut down the Ontisha Main Market over traders’ continued compliance with the Monday sit-at-home order despite the state government’s declaration of an end to the practice.
Soludo had on Monday visited the market where he observed that all the shops were under locks and keys.
Addressing the traders present in the market, the governor expressed his displeasure over the development as he reiterated the state government’s lifting of the sit-at-home order imposed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) across all Southeast states.
He declared a one-week shutdown of the market, warning that subsequent violation of his directive over the order will attract one-month shutdown.
Soludo maintained that Anambra is open for business as he charged the traders to comply with the laws of the state.
“I don’t know wherever you come from. Anambra is open to everybody. Everybody is welcomed to trade in Anambra.
“But if you must trade here, you must abide by the rule and rules are that markets are opened from Mondays to Saturdays.
“If you are not prepared to open your shops from Monday to Saturday, then leave Anambra and go elsewhere.
“This market will be shut down for the remainder of this week. It will not be opened tomorrow. It will not be opened on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
It will open again on Monday. And if we come on Monday and it is locked, we will shut it down again for one month.” He said.
Recall that the IPOB had imposed the Monday sit-at-home order across the southeast during the detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.