Na big wahala dey for Anambra as traders for Onitsha Main Market don finally gree to open their shops every Monday. Dem don talk am for meeting wey dem get with Governor Soludo, wey don vow say the era of sit-at-home go end once and for all.
Chijioke Okpalugo, wey be chairman of Onitsha Main Market, talk say dem don tire for losses wey sit-at-home don cause. E mention say security dey important to allow traders fit operate without wahala. E call on governor make e show more security presence for the market.
Soludo no carry matter play, e don make am clear say all markets for Anambra go dey open every Monday. E don even promise say go renovate or rebuild the Onitsha Main Market to make am beta place for trade. Na serious business wey dey ground, as e talk say sit-at-home na criminal matter wey no follow agitation for Nnamdi Kanu release again.
As the matter dey hot, dem don blame outsiders wey dey enforce this sit-at-home, saying many of dem no even be Anambra people. E dey clear say Soludo go use strong hand if traders no comply. Dem don already feel the effects, as movement and business activities don dey suffer too much for the area.
Okpalugo, on behalf of traders, request make government increase security so dem fit do their work without fear. E talk say, ‘Governor Soludo dey listen, and we go dey open on Mondays if we fit get better security for market.’ Dem propose say make motor parks dey operate fully to ease goods movement.
For this meeting, Soludo don also talk say e don stationed over 150 security operatives for the market to protect traders and their wares. E don stress say, ‘Anambra na land of opportunities, and we no fit waste our Mondays again. This sit-at-home don turn to sabotage, and na time to rise.’
But no be everybody dey gree with am o. Some traders don dey complain say Soludo no suppose close them shop because of small group wey dey choose to stay at home. One trader wey call imself Papa Ejima don talk say, ‘Wetin make am think say na him dey feed us? We dey pay tax, we no be his slaves.’
Another trader, Simon-Daniel Ubani, suggest say make Soludo no just dey give orders but make e dey appeal to dem to stop the sit-at-home. ‘We fit open, but make dem know say punishment no go help matter,’ e talk.
Sah, as dis gist dey unfold, na only time go show if dem go fit resolve this matter without more wahala for the market. Traders dey hopeful say with all the talk, dem go fit resume normal business operation soon.
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