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As Governor Breaks Silence over Protest
- Safiu Kehinde
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has revealed the reaction of the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, over the sit-at-home order declared on his behalf across the southeast.
Soludo made this known while addressing newsmen at a press conference held in the wake of the ongoing protest over his one-week suspension of trading activities in Onitsha Main Market.
NPO Reported that the governor had on Monday declared the one-week suspension over the market traders’ continued observation of the Monday sit-at-home order declared by the IPOB as part of their act of solidarity and demand for the release of Kanu during the early days of his detention.
With the Anambra state government already abolished the order, Soludo’s visit to the Onitsha main market which he discovered to be largely closed led to his suspension of trading activities in the market.
This would however would not go down well with the traders who had since resorted to protest and demonstration with their latest act being the blockage of the Onitsha bridge yesterday.
Addressing newsmen on the development, Soludo condemned the continued compliance with the sit-at-home order by the traders as he recounted his visit to Kanu over the order when he assumed office.
He disclosed that the IPOB leader, who the secessionist group claimed to have declared the order on his behalf, also expressed his dissatisfaction with the declaration which he considered to be a major setback to the economic growth of the state.
Soludo also recounted how several groups and stakeholders denounced the declaration.
“When I assumed office, we engaged all stakeholders and we had several releases by IPOB denouncing the sit-at-home itself that they did not support it.
“Various groups were denouncing it. But I think this was being reinforced by a group led by Simon Ekpa, maiming and killing people.
“So, fear got into everywhere and people decided that. Not because they loved to but because they were coerced to.
“Upon assumption of office, I personally visited Nnamdi Kanu at the DSS custody. We discussed and he was not happy about the sit-at-home thing.
“It is like shooting yourself on the foot. It is like cutting your nose to spike your face.” He said.
Prior to that, Soludo described the eradication of the order as a struggle for the soul of Anambra’s future.
Soludo disclosed that the same traders shutting their shops on Monday over sit-at-home order took no cognizance of the order during the yuletide season as every business was open from Mondays and Sundays during the festive season.
The governor described the traders’ return to the order as a deliberate and criminal intent to sabotage the economy and keep southeast backward.
“This is the struggle for the soul of Anambra’s future. 80 percent of the people has given us their mandate to protect and promote their welfare and security.
“We had the best Christmas ever these last few weeks. It was as if there was mass return all over Anambra. All the markets were open, including on Mondays and Sundays. You won’t believe it; main market was open on Mondays throughout the yuletide season.
“But then after the Christmas season, they locked it up again. Something is happening. It is no longer sit-at-home. Sit-at-home ended more than two years ago.
“This time around, it is no longer sit-at-home. It is now like culture. We are now used to it and therefore, by reflex action, we have to be aware.
“And we are redefining a new calendar for Anambra in the Southeast that we are open for business from Tuesday to Saturday or to Friday as the case may be while the rest of the world has a different kind of calendar.
“There is now some deliberateness about what is going on- sabotage, criminal intent to keep Anambra and the southeast behind.
“We cannot realise the potentials of Anambra without defeating this kind of life because it keeps dragging us back.” He said.
Soludo further recalled his administration’s effort to stop the sit-at-home order and atrocities committed under the guise of the order which he disclosed to be sponsored by southeasterners living outside the region.
He further raised question over the motive behind the protesters” target of Onitsha and Nnewi market as the epicentres of their demonstration.
“In July 2023 we realised that the sit-at-home was fueled from outside Anambra. We decided with those living in Abuja, Lagos, and the diaspora that you are killing the homeland.
“If you love Igboland, if you love the southeast, or you are from the southeast and you are talking about sit-at-home there must be a mental issue wrong somewhere because you are killing the place.
“How will the innocent children grow and be part of the next century if you keep them away from schools.
“That’s the people you say you are fighting for? That’s madness! The poor peasant farmers, the woman who was frying akara to feed her people and children in front of their house, those people who are enforcing it went to shoot her dead in front of her house.
“We tried to end it. We did everything. We even had one youth skills programme to enable them to come out of the bushes and help them earn a living.
“There is a point for you to know. You need to ask yourself why Anambra? Why Onitsha in particular because as I drove out now, everybody is going about their business.
“You drive down through Onitsha, everywhere is busy. Why did they target Onitsha and Nnewi market.
“This is something for everybody to think about. You go around Onitsha and majority of the people doing this are not from Anambra.” He added.