Traders applaud Soludo’s end to sit-at-home order in Anambra

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

Traders in Anambra State on the aegis of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, led  by their President General, Humphrey Anuna, have applauded governor Charles Soludo’s termination of Monday sit-at-home order.

The Nations News reports that the Indigenous People of  Biafra, IPOB, introduced the sit-at-home order in the south east region to agitate for the release of their national leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The event held at the Neo Gold Hotel and Suites, located along Nkpor/Umuoji/road, Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government area, proceeded by special church service held at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.

In his homily during the Church service, the Presiding Priest, Boniface Okafor, expressed satisfaction with the cordial relationship between the traders and the state government and prayed God to continue to protect the governor, traders and the entire people in the state.

Speaking during the celebration, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce,  Mike Obiekwe, disclosed that elections will soon be conducted in all the markets in the state to ensure democracy in all markets adding that the process has commenced with the conduct of elections in some markets presently.

The permanent Secretary told the traders that Soludo has done everything for the good of the traders and urged them to reciprocate by ensuring peace in the markets recalling that all link roads to the markets have been rehabilitated/constructed by the governor for easy flow of traffic to and from markets and security beefed up.

Obiekwe paid glowing tribute to the ASMATA PG, Anuna, for his efforts in ensuring peace and increased internally Generated Revenue, IGR, which has assisted to increase the revenue base of the state.

“His words, “The governor of Anambra State Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo (Oluatuegwu) is happy with the traders because they are peaceful and supportive. 

“The governor is assuring the traders and all residents and visitors that he will continue to ensure water tight security and all that is necessary to ensure ease of doing business including friendly policies and quality infrastructure knowing fully well that Anambra is a commercial driven State” Obiekwe said. 

In his response,ASMATA PG Chief Anuna who was honoured with an award as “Ogbuefi Ndiafia,” gave account of Governor Soludo’s positive impact on traders with numerous projects that have directly and indirectly impacted positively on 

the traders in the State including massive road construction, tight security and environmental management with effective decongestion of major roads and strict traffic control adding that Soludo has restored the confidence of traders in governance. 

Accrding to Anuna the traders deemed it right enough to celebrate the end of Monday sit home with a thanksgiving mass service in the Church as a mark of expression of gratitude to God.

 While thanking Governor Soludo for mustering the force to quash sit at home he called on traders both within and those outside the State that usually come to buy goods to start coming on Mondays as Monday sit at home has been brought to an end. 

Contributing, the President of Building Material International Market, Ogidi Chief Jude Nwankwo (alias Jolity) who is also a Patron of ASMATA called on traders mostly those from outside Anambra that come to buy goods to start coming on Mondays because business has resumed in Anambra on Monday, courtesy of the hardworking governor, Professor Soludo (Oluatuegwu). 

Chief Nwankwo who in his usual magnanimity offered to provide incentives to traders who come to buy goods on Monday in the Market thanked God for His blessings upon Ndi Anambra and also commended Governor Soludo for restoring the confidence of Ndi 

Anambra in government with impact governance noting that the impact Soludo has made in bringing discipline to bear, bringing tight security and road construction in particular has made people to believe in government like never before in the State 

Earlier in his speech, the CEO of the Neo Gold hotel and Suites, Charles Ikeli, who is also the chairman of Amalgamated Tyre Dealers Association, Nkpor, lauded Soludo for ending Sit-at-home in the state.

He recalled that the sit-at-home frustrated business activities in the state for about six years standing describing the situation as ‘mess’ and unfortunate.

Ikeli expressed satisfaction that traders in his market have started reopening their shops disclosing that up to 70 per cent now come to market unlike when the sit-at-home order was effective as traders vacate the markets out of fear.

Ifeoma Anene, who represented the ASMATA women wing leader, Grace Okonkwo, and Azifuaku Blessing Ezedebego, secretary, of Ochanja Environs market, lauded the ASMATA PG, Anuna, for organizing the celebration to mark end of sit-at-home.

Speaking, the chairman of Onyeaghananwanneya Butchers Association, Umunya, Chinedu Uba, commended Soludo, Anuna and Evarist Uba for restoring peace and tranquility in the markets.

The Butchers’ boss described the celebration of end of sit-at-home as a welcome development and lauded the governor for quashing it in the state.