Ohanaeze Ndigbo backs Soludo over his decision to shut Onitsha market in a bid to end Monday boycotts

PAN-Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo has thrown its weight behind Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State in his quest to end the ongoing Monday boycott of markets in solidarity with Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) leader Nnamdi Kanu.

Highly controversial, Mr Kanu, the leader of the separatist group Ipob, has been campaigning for the recreation of the independent republic of Biafra which broke away from Nigeria between July 1967 and January 1970 during the civil war. His campaign, which has led to the phenomenal growth of Ipob, has set him at odds with the Nigerian government who him arrested and put on trial for treason.

On Thursday November 20, the case finally closed with Justice James Omotosho finding Mr Kanu guilty on all seven counts of terrorism filed against him by the Nigerian government. Delivering his judgment, the judge described Mr Kanu as a terrorist whose actions have led to bloodshed and destabilisation across the southeast geo-political zone and handed down four life sentences on the Ipob leader.

However, in solidarity with Mr Kanu, markets across the southeast geo-political zone have been shutting every Monday. Despite attempts to end this boycott, the protests have continued and exasperated with it, Governor Soludu decided to take action with week, shutting down Onitsha market for a week in a bid to compel traders to stop the protest.

Supporting the governor's actions, Ohanaeze said it has become increasingly evident to the Igbo populace that, for over five years now, the unconstitutional Monday sit-at-home directives have wreaked havoc. It blamed the development on what it described as a clandestine cabal within the southeast market leadership.

According to Ohanaeze Ndigbo this cabal appears to be colluding with the violent enforcers of the Monday sit-at-home edicts. Ohanaeze noted that the allegations suggested that these market leaders are sabotaging the directives of the governors, fully aware that closing markets on Mondays would catalyze widespread economic collapse and disrupt all spheres of social activity across the southeast geo-political zone.

In a statement issued by the factional deputy president-general of Ohanaeze, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Chief Chinyereze Ohia, the national spokesperson, the organisation backed Governor Soludo to the hilt. It noted that the governor's assertive action is not only commendable but should also serve as a template for other southeast governors towards ensuring the cessation of Monday sit-at-home observances across the region.

In response to the mass protests that erupted yesterday over the closure of Onitsha Market, Ohanaeze urged Governor Soludo to summon the leadership of the Onitsha Main Market. It added that this team must enter into a binding agreement with the Anambra State government, pledging to abide by the laws of the land and support good governance within the state.

Ohanaeze equally urged the South East Governors Forum to take decisive action by summoning the leadership of major markets in the region and investigate their possible complicity with the proponents of the sit-at-home directives. Ohanaeze Ndigbo reiterated that every effort must be made, lawfully and legally, by the Anambra government and all relevant security agencies, to preserve and protect Onitsha Main Market.