Indigenes of Ebonyi State doing business in Anambra State have dissociated themselves from any planned protest over the closure of the Onitsha Main Market, declaring full support for Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s directive for full commercial activities on Mondays.
The Ebonyi Town Union in Anambra State made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Onitsha by its President-General, Moses Igwe.
Igwe urged Ebonyi traders to avoid any action capable of disrupting public peace or putting their lives and businesses at risk.
According to him, Soludo’s Monday business policy was designed to protect traders’ interests and strengthen the state’s economy, stressing that repeated market closures only worsen losses for traders.
He said, “Closing markets every Monday is not helping anyone. It is even more damaging to the traders themselves. Sit-at-home actions would not secure the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
“Non-indigenes, particularly Ebonyi traders, often bear the brunt whenever protests turn violent. We advise our kinsmen to completely disassociate themselves from any form of demonstration against government policy.
“Ebonyi people are peace-loving, law-abiding residents who have enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Soludo administration.”
Igwe also cited appointments given to Ebonyi indigenes in the Anambra State Government and the construction of a general hospital in Okpoko—home to a large Ebonyi population—as evidence of the administration’s inclusive governance.
“Ebonyi indigenes in Okpoko are major beneficiaries of the general hospital built by this administration. No Ebonyi man or woman should go against the directives of a government that has supported us,” he added.
He therefore called on traders across Anambra State to fully resume business on Mondays, emphasising that economic stability and peaceful coexistence, rather than protests, remain the surest path to collective progress.
Punch Online had reported on Thursday that traders at the Onitsha Main Market and other markets across the state pledged to end the Monday sit-at-home and resume full business activities on Mondays in line with Soludo’s directive.
The assurance was given during an interactive session with the governor, following the closure of the Onitsha Main Market and the prolonged Monday sit-at-home which has crippled commercial and economic activities in the South-East.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Chairman of the Onitsha Main Market, Chijioke Okpalugo, said traders were ready to commence Monday operations in support of the governor’s “One Anambra” vision, but appealed for improved security to guarantee the safety of lives and property
