The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has refused to back down on the order he made on Monday 26th January 2026 to shutdown Onitsha Main Market and its adjoining markets for one week, following business owners’ defiance to doing business on Monday in the name of sit-at-home order in sympathy of the acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB.
The now two-term Governor of Anambra State has insisted that the Onitsha main market and in fact any other market in Anambra State complying with the illegal Sit-At-Home order would be shutdown as punitive measure till Monday when they should have been ready to open their businesses and serve the public.
Traders had taken to the street in protest against what they perceive as draconian and a breach of their rights by the Governor. This is the second day of the protest which has gone way off, causing blockage in Onitsha head bridge against vehicular movement.
Despite the degenerating disquiet, Soludo has refused to back down on his order, taking the bull by the horn and insisting there couldn’t be a better time to stop the oddity than now. “I don’t mind closing this market for the rest of this year, and if it gets too much, we will bring bulldozers and level this market. If you are not ready to trade on Monday, leave Anambra and go elsewhere.”, Soludo insists.
