Activist Slams Soludo Over Onitsha Market Closure, Demands Apology
By Chinaza Nwaoma
A human rights activist, Rev. Pastor Jude Achebe, has condemned the closure of Onitsha Main Market by Governor Charles Soludo, directing him to apologize to traders and the Igbo nation.
Achebe, National President of Human Dignity Restoration Association (HDRA), described the closure as “unacceptable” and an overreach of the governor’s powers. The market was closed due to traders’ adherence to a Monday sit-at-home order introduced by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
According to Achebe, the traders did not violate any law or owe the state government any dime, making the closure unjustifiable. “You don’t have power over people you don’t pay,” he said, adding that the governor should have tackled those behind the sit-at-home order instead of punishing innocent traders.
Achebe urged Soludo to tender an unreserved apology to the traders, the Igbo nation, and the entire country, stressing that shutting down the market would not happen in developed countries. “You are not governing yourself,” he said, advising the governor to listen to the people’s problems and solve them.
The activist expressed disappointment in Soludo’s decision, saying it was not expected from a governor of his stature. “This is not a wise decision, you need to apologize,” Achebe insisted.
