Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has backed the decision of the Anambra State government to close the Onitsha main market for one week over the sustained observance of the Monday sit-at-home order.
The OYC President, Igboayaka Igboayaka, in a statement, on Tuesday, said the decision was a good one, and should be supported by all because the Monday sit-at-home has done more harm than good to the economy of Anambra State and the southeast in general.
He maintained that those enforcing the sit-at-home are enemies of Ndigbo sponsored to shutdown the only means of survival of Ndigbo in Nigeria, which is commerce and trading.
He further noted that Igbo people have proven themselves to be accomplished business leaders, industrialists, and entrepreneurs, having endured the catastrophic consequences of the 1967-1970 genocide through an apprenticeship system that originated in Onitsha main market, and spread to other markets across Nigeria.
Igboayaka maintained that anyone claiming market leadership in Anambra who enforces market lockdowns in Onitsha is, in reality, an adversary to the economic survival of Ndigbo.
“The Igbo people have demonstrated resilience through self-reliance and entrepreneurship, building businesses with a mere £20 since 1970, despite the Federal Government’s confiscation of their assets, leaving individuals and business tycoon with only £20 after the genocide against Ndigbo where Federal Government troop slaughtered 4.3 million Igbos, regardless of their substantial Pre-conflict bank holdings,” he noted.
He stated that the bold initiative of Governor Soludo to permanently end Monday sit-at-home in Anambra especially in Onitsha, the economic hub of Ndigbo, is an idea that every progressive Igbo person, and lover of Igbo political and economic liberation should support and applaud.
He, therefore, urged market leaders in Onitsha, Nnewi, and Awka to collaborate with Governor Soludo in ending the Monday sit-at-home, and ensuring that all markets are open on Mondays.
He emphasized the need to utilize every strategic means to ensure that traders open their shops and businesses on Mondays without fear of intimidation or threat to life from gangs disguising themselves as enforcers of the sit-at-home order, which has been halted by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The OYC President thus suggested that the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Department of State Security Services (DS) swiftly collaborate with Governor Soludo’s administration to put an end to the Monday sit-at-home order that robbed Ndigbo N6bn weekly, and address any criminal elements enforcing the order, which is detrimental to the good reputation of IPOB built by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Notwithstanding Governor Soludo’s failure to meet our expectations as Governor of Anambra State, anyone who oppose his plans to end Monday sit-at-home in all the markets in Anambra is an adversary of Biafran restoration and Ndigbo,” Igboayaka stated.
