From Ifeoma Ejiofor
Gov Charles Soludo of Anambra State has ordered the immediate shut down of the Onitsha main market for one week, following defiance of the market leadership to open for business on Monday, against government directive.
The governor gave the order on Monday during his visit to the market.
Traders in Anambra State have for years, been observing Monday sit at home directive by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) enforced by unknown gunmen.
Gov Soludo who gave the order to close the market during his visit to the commercial town of Onitsha observed that despite repeated assurances of enhanced security and appeals to reclaim public spaces, many traders at the market again chose to keep their stalls locked.
He described the absence of traders in the market as a quiet rebellion, but one that spoke volumes about the lingering climate of apprehension.
“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy, this is plain economic sabotage.
“We are not going to allow this, if the market does not reopen for business after this one-week shutdown, it will be sealed for a month, and so on and so forth.
“You either decide that you are going to trade here or you go elsewhere. I am very serious about this,” he insisted.
At the time of filing this report, a joint task force of police, army, and other security personnel have moved in to enforce the governor’s order.
Meanwhile, an Awka based legal practitioner, has criticized Gov Soludo over the closure order.
He said, “I am yet to know of any law that empowers government to compel traders to open their shops. In a free-enterprise society, government cannot arbitrarily command traders when to open their businesses.
“Ordinarily, traders are free to decide when and how to conduct their enterprises. This freedom flows from constitutionally guaranteed rights to property, occupation, and movement.”
He said as a matter of fact that the limited power government may exercise is regulatory by prescribing general market hours such as opening by 8:00 a.m. and closing by 6:00 p.m which he noted is purely for order, safety, and administration.