The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has alleged that the ongoing sit-at-home order initiated by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to press home the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is a calculated attempt to sabotage the socio-economic development of the South East.
The governor stated this during a press conference held on Wednesday at the Light House, Awka, to update the public on the closure of the Onitsha Main Market.
Soludo said the closure was not purely targeted at hurting traders but aimed at fighting criminal elements allegedly sponsored by politicians to keep Anambra State and the South East region at large behind Nigeria’s economic status.
According to him, he carried out the action after consistent warnings over a period of three years.“The most worrying concern about the situation is that the entire markets in Onitsha opened for sales, including the contented Monday, throughout the Christmas and New Year seasons. Why did the sit-at-home resurface again after the secure and peaceful celebrations? That indicates that the sit-at-home syndrome is beyond the agitation for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.“Since I assumed office as the Anambra State Governor, IPOB has made several publications calling for a total end to the devilish sit-at-home, but the criminal elements being sponsored by politicians could not let it go.
“I also visited Kanu at the detention facility in Abuja, where he told me that he did not order any sit-at-home in Igboland.
“The development is seriously killing the economy of our region and inflicting monumental pain on our people, particularly the less privileged ones.
“Most of the criminal elements are not citizens of Anambra State.“On the closure, Governor Soludo insisted that the Onitsha Main Market will remain closed until Monday next week, and any shop that fails to open will be revoked because the market is the property of the Anambra State Government.
“As I speak to you, a total of 150 security personnel are working in the market. Anyone saying insecurity is the major cause of the Monday sit-at-home is speaking out of point.
“My administration will not allow any criminal elements to distort the socio-economic welfare of the state, and we will continue to struggle until the so-called sit-at-home comes to an end.
“What is happening now is an attempt to sabotage not only the economy of Anambra State but the entire South East region.“I am doing this under the armpits of the law to restore law and order in Onitsha and the state at large.”
He appealed to all concerned stakeholders to join him in the fight against the syndrome, Soludo concluded.
