₦airaland Forum

The Indigenous People of Biafra has asked traders and shop owners at the Onitsha Main Market to open for business on Tuesday, despite Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s directive shutting the market for one week from Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday, Soludo ordered the closure of the market following traders’ failure to comply with the state government’s directive to disregard the Monday sit-at-home order.

The governor gave the directive during an on-site visit to the market alongside some aides and other government officials.

He warned that the closure could be extended if traders failed to comply, adding that security agencies had sealed the market to enforce the order.

Soludo described the development as the latest—and perhaps most drastic—salvo in a prolonged struggle over control of economic life in the South-East.

However, in a statement issued late on Monday, the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said Soludo must be reminded that no government entity established or funded the traders’ businesses.

Powerful said the Federal Government must heed the call and release IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, without delay to restore peace and normalcy in the South-East.


The statement read in part, “The IPOB hereby declares that tomorrow, January 27, 2026, our people in Anambra State shall resume their legitimate business activities and open their shops and markets.

“This action is not in defiance of any gubernatorial order but in the exercise of their God-given right to pursue their daily livelihoods according to their preferences and necessities.”

He added that traders received no state support during the COVID-19 lockdowns, insisting that their resilience could not be suppressed.

The statement added, “Our people endured a three-year food blockade during the Nigeria-Biafra War and emerged as the most entrepreneurial ethnic group in Africa, as well as the most successful immigrant community in the United States.

“Our fathers liberated Nigeria from colonial rule, our ancestors liberated Haiti from colonial oppression, and in the creeks of Savannah, Georgia, we Igbos chose death over enslavement—a legacy chronicled in Alex Haley’s ‘Roots,’ where our ancestors from Onitsha drowned themselves rather than submit to man-made slavery and bondage.

“We have always chosen death over dishonour. Governor Soludo, you cannot defeat our collective spirit of resistance; history teaches us that.

“Before embarking on any perilous path tomorrow, such as deploying soldiers from the Onitsha barracks to infringe upon our rights to conduct business as we deem fit, Governor Soludo must carefully weigh the consequences. Any arrests, harassment, or bloodshed will signal the beginning of the end for those who oppose the will of the people.”


Powerful warned that any arrests or harassment of traders would be resisted, adding that IPOB was not seeking confrontation with the Anambra State Government but demanded respect for the wishes of the people.

“When the great people of Anambra, the first sons of Igboland and the origin of the Igbo race, demand action toward the unconditional release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, it is the divine speaking through them.

“Tomorrow, our markets shall open, and no force on earth can prevent it. We warn that any attempt to obstruct this will invite grave danger upon the enemies of Biafra’s emancipation.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria must heed this call and release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu without further delay to restore peace and normalcy in the South-East,” the statement concluded.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Soludo ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week after many traders defied the government’s directive to resume business on Mondays.

The governor said that despite assurances of improved security, many traders once again kept their stalls locked, describing the development as a reflection of lingering fear in the region.

https://punchng.com/ipob-directs-onitsha-traders-to-open-shops-despite-soludos-order/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPksQ5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR6fEEuqQB5LWPP2yeET0XxbIKZdhThcVRY8IrHce9q39tuUPRr_15XvSHXD_g_aem_Gb4p--iwsMXV-7L0zeVZxQ

Nlfpmod mynd44 Fergie001

When it's time to do his useless campaign he closes market and campaigns for his selfish interest. When the traders choose to stay off their own business for their own reason, Soludo whose head does not sit well with alcohol will illegally close their trade.

A so called professor who answers to a certificate forger and drug sniffer is not a good role model to our youths.

Go open am for them na

Just imagine a bunch of terrorists overruling the Governor.
What an insult to legal authority.


Has anyone even seen the clown calling himself Emman Powerful? Na the IPOB leader in Sokoto giving these orders. There's no one called Emman Powerful.

COMRADES, this is a welcome development

You don't want to sit at home again? People who have chosen Nnamdi Kanu as their god. Very gullible.

2 Government for one region....



Same people that are Warriors online buh call others cowards..

The Indigenous People of Biafra has asked traders and shop owners at the Onitsha Main Market to open for business on Tuesday, despite Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s directive shutting the market for one week

Sit at home is one of the most futile and irrational things I've ever seen. It just doesn't make sense to me, because at the end of the day it is your own people that are loosing, not Yoruba or hausa. Its just like those people in some countries that go on hunger strike, it makes me wonder "is it not your self, you are doing" instead of you to eat food and have strength to protest, you choose to starve yourself. That is exactly what IPOB are doing.

Agu eji eje mba . Nwoke ike. Even in your absence , the state treble. One coward pretending to be a freedom fighter has collected bribe and chickened out He is now lying down for every king

BondRiv:
You don't want to sit at home again? People who have chosen Nnamdi Kanu as their god. Very gullible.

How does it affect you
Focus on Rivers states..
Cho Cho Cho everywhere

Emma Powerful, thank you for this powerful writeup.

We will open our shops tomorrow.

I no send Soludo.

Na people get government, not the other way round.

Prof. Charles Soludo wants to test his popularity.

Are these people confused or what. And Is this how they plan to rule Nigeria?

Those that were enforcing sit at home are now enforcing no sit at home. While those that have been enforcing no sit at home are now doing the opposite.

South east need to get their acts together.

YesDaddyTill203:
Just imagine a bunch of terrorists overruling the Governor.
What an insult to legal authority.


Has anyone even seen the clown calling himself Emman Powerful? Na the IPOB leader in Sokoto giving these orders. There's no one called Emman Powerful.

Don't hide in that one room apartment you're typing from. Come to Onitsha and repeat this statement. Let's test something.

When this one is apprehended, he’ll start shedding crocodile tears.

Happy opening.. it's a new year

How will they bypass the security that surrounds the market? If IPOB loves Kanu so much, why didn't they go and barricade DSS headquarters where he was held? If they were serious and not just arrant noise makers, why are they still accepting naira in the Onitsha market? Let them ban the use of the naira in that market first and then we will reason their level of seriousness.

IPOB is threading on dangerous grounds here. The Chief law enforcement officer of the state has given a directive. Openly calling for his order to be defied is calling for an insurrection.

Southeasterners should channel this anger into the electoral process and strategically make their votes count. The days of voting just to prove a point are over. That's one aspect Nnamdi Kanu failed to capitalise upon.

So, governor dey give rule
Some other groups sef dey give rules
How many captains dey Anambra?

And some people are busy comparing Kanu and Sunday Ighoho. Where do you see Sunday or his followers disrupting economic activities, threatening peace and going against the government.

Let's see as it goes. Power pass power.

Tomorrow na Tuesday

in a statement issued late on Monday, the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said Soludo must be reminded that no government entity established or funded the traders’ businesses.

Okay, so what gives IPOB the right to enforce sit-at-home? Did IPOB fund the traders businesses??

imagine wetin terrorist organization dey talk

FatimaAbubakar:
Don't hide in that one room apartment you're typing from. Come to Onitsha and repeat this statement. Let's test something.

Of course he will be hacked down and killed. Simply confirming his statement that ipob are terrorists. You've only proven him right.

It's we be interesting, let see what tomorrow we. bring, let see the. most powerful organisation between upon or Anambra government.

OnionBandit:
imagine wetin terrorist organization dey talk

But them say government was partial with Sunday Ighoho. Dem say na because Kanu- leader of a terrorist group is Igbo. These people lack sense walahi

Winterhaven:
Are these people confused or what. And Is this how they plan to rule Nigeria?

Those that were enforcing sit at home are now enforcing no sit at home. While those that have been enforcing no sit at home are now doing the opposite.

South east need to get their acts together.

Reversed psychology in action. Hope they prefer sitting at home on Mondays, at least a week extension will reset their brains!

yorosstores:
But them say government was partial with Sunday Ighoho. Dem say na because Kanu- leader of a terrorist group is Igbo. These people lack sense walahi

I no dey stress myself with them anymore o! I know most of them need mental evaluation. They come up with different yeye logic just to make themselves happy.

I don't see how this add up!

Your Excellence Governor Soludo are you out of your mind? You are a democratic politician which defines your clarity to people's will, choice and decision.

If all these men both rich and average parading around Main-Market could boast of proper administration of their business then they can decide to stay at home.

These litters all over Main-Market and its surroundings is not a way to refine a city(Onitsha) in suburb of Anambra state. Buildings clutching around street's, Street's Narrow across the vicinity whilst traffic and blockage brew the entire surroundings.

Look at the buildings and tell me if actually there are Mapped planning for such vicinity.

All those that have shops in that area(Ownership right), since you can level the entire market; draw a new plan for the structures, everybody must register their shops at the webform/online portal registration created for those in Main Market, **for Plaza's owner's will move away and beckon on compensation.

Dualization should commence and Old buildings not affected by the mapping must either be sold(investors)/renovate or face the weight of a bulldozer.

This is the new Ideology if i was a special adviser to the seat of Anambra state government on youth, cultural and development scheme, as the people echo for one' ness I echo back with development of a strategic leadership.

Now some people will say IPOB is not a terrorist organisation.

I said it that soludo has fallen into a trap.

He swallowed the bait without thinking twice. He is trying to do the biddings of his goons in Abuja.

I repeat it again this thing or whatever it is is far beyond soludo.