By Eteteonline
The Anambra State sit-at-home scenario on Monday, the fighting between traders and soldiers representing Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, and the broader political-economic tensions this has caused
Due to a weekly “sit-at-home” edict that has been largely implemented throughout the South-East, many stores in Onitsha Main Market and other marketplaces remained closed on Monday. These weekly lockdowns have historically been encouraged by non-state actors, particularly groups associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in protest of their leader Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest.
When Governor Charles Soludo visited Onitsha on Monday, he announced that the Main Market would be closed for a week because traders had not opened their stores, indicating that they were adhering to the sit-at-home policy in spite of government efforts to put a halt to it. He maintained that with increased security, the sit-at-home policy is no longer warranted.
The Monday closures, according to Soludo, are economic sabotage that damages the state’s economy and impedes progress.
He has also accused some lawmakers of funding renewed sit-at-home activities to disrupt the region.
There were tense clashes in the market area. The tensions developed into confrontations.
Traders opposed the government’s closure. Security personnel and traders battled, with gunshots reported in and around the market as enforcement continued.
Some traders criticize the government of penalizing ordinary residents instead of addressing security concerns.
Governor Soludo and his administration have remained firm. He insists the sit-at-home has been formally eliminated since 2023 and that dealers should operate six days a week.
He believes that insecurity is not a valid argument, since marketplaces ran on Mondays over the Christmas season without incident.
The government has warned that continuous defiance could lead to revocation of shop ownership or longer closures.
Security presence has been strengthened around the marketplaces to enforce the new orders.
According to Soludo, “saving the economic soul of Anambra” and resuming full economic activity need opposing the sit-at-home trend.
Rallying against the government’s actions and screaming slogans, some traders and locals have opposed the market closure.
An IPOB-affiliated group has called on locals to reopen businesses in violation of the government order, arguing that it is a right to livelihood rather than a sign of disobedience.
Soludo has also been charged by IPOB with attempting to sabotage their movement and thwart their nonviolent fight.
Economic impact of the weekly sit-at-home has been considerable. The state regularly loses billions of dollars in lost trade and activities as a result of the sit-at-home, especially if it is widely observed, especially in commercial centers like Onitsha.
Soludo’s forceful posture reflects a tougher approach to enforcing state authority and decreasing impact of non-governmental instructions. Analysts interpret this as an attempt to reclaim normal economic and civic life even in the face of long-standing cultural/political practices in the region.
There is a chance that the confrontation may intensify. Even though the government has tightened security and promised administrative and legal repercussions, many traders are still afraid to go back to business if they think the risks are still there. This conflict could continue unless there are serious engagement and confidence-building measures between authorities and market leaders.
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