A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has claimed that the unrest surrounding the closure of the Onitsha Main Market points to the fact that the market leaders are ‘full commanders and sponsors.’
He alleged some Anambra indigenes are sponsoring banditry in the state.
Nigerian Newssphere reports that tension has continued to mount in Onitsha following the decision of Governor Chukwuma Soludo to shut down the market over its alleged compliance with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s Monday sit-at-home order.
Since the closure, traders protesting the action have clashed with security operatives deployed to enforce the directive.
Reacting to the situation, Igbokwe, in a statement issued on Wednesday night, said recent developments were “looking and sounding as if Anambra people are the ones hosting bandits and supporting their activities in the South-East.”
According to him, Governor Soludo has drawn a clear line by insisting that traders must open the Onitsha Main Market on Mondays and carry out their businesses or face a one-week shutdown.
“This is where we are now in a state that has been the backbone of the Southeast. We are all watching the drama as it unfolds,” he said.
Igbokwe further alleged that those behind the defiance would ultimately fail, adding that the market leadership appeared to believe it was above the law.
“The leaders are showing through their actions and deeds that they are fully IPOB commanders and sponsors,” he added.
