A chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chimezie Anaso, has thrown his weight behind the decision of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra to shutdown Onitsha Main Market for one week.

Mr Soludo directed the closure of the market on Monday during a visit to evaluate the compliance with the order to end the protracted Monday sit-at-home in parts of the state.

Mr Soludo said the market would continue to be shut for the rest of every week if traders did not open on Mondays,  insisting that the culture must end.

Mr Obigwe, who is the National Coordinator of APGA Media Warriors Forum, said those supporting the shutdown of business in Anambra State were the real enemies of the state  and the entire of the South-East.

He said Mr Soludo should be commended for taking bold steps to end Monday’s sit-at-home menace as it had dealt a heavy blow on the economy of the zone.

He wondered why Monday sit-at-home was not being observed in Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia states but continued to exist in Anambra State.

He said those dropping the name of the convicted leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, as reason for continued observance of sit-at-home were deceits clutching on the name to perpetrate criminality and cripple Igbo’s economy.

“As a matter of fact, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu stated in a widely circulated press release that he is not in support of Monday sit-at-home home and has advised our people to put an end to it. The people claiming that they are doing it as a civil disobedience measure to protest the detention of Nnamdi Kanu are deceiving themselves,”.

“Those saying that Soludo should fight for Kanu release from detention instead of fighting to end Monday’s sit-at-home are being economical with the truth,” he said.

Mr Obigwe said Mr Soludo had been a leading voice in the clamour for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, adding that the governor’s efforts to restore the economy of Anambra State should be supported by all people of goodwill.

He said the action of Mr Soludo was in line with the position of Nnamdi Kanu who had long disowned the shutdown of businesses.

He stated, “Governor Soludo is the first governor in Igboland to call for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu. When he came in as Anambra State governor, he paid Nnamdi Kanu a visit at DSS detention facility and had frank discussion with him.

“People of Anambra State and those residing in the state should support the governor’s efforts to end the Monday sit-at-home because it is for the good of our state. Governor Soludo is doing marvelously well in our state and we must support his policies to enable him to do more for us. Let us say no to Monday sit-at-home to revive the economy of our state.”

(NAN)