Obidigbo Challenges Soludo To Produce Agenda On Onitsha Main Market – Obiorah Anthony Ugwonwa

The National Chairman, Omabala Union, Dr Chike Obidigbo, has said that Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, had a duty to provide for the welfare and security of the people and residents of the state.
Dr. Obidigbo, who was speaking with newsmen in Awka on the ongoing demolition and remodeling of Onitsha Main Market by Soludo, said the governor sometimes took decisions and actions that confused the people.
He observed how the governor turned vindictive when the traders at Onitsha Main market refused to comply with his directive that they should end the Monday sit-at-home action started many years ago.
Obidigbo noted that the situation did not warrant maximum application of force, as the governor still had an option to dialogue with the traders.
He explained that as governor, he owed it to the people to provide for their needs, not to take away their hard earned livelihood from them.
“The Governor’s actions had lot of devastating implications on the state because a lot of young people who are into trade and commerce are running away from Anambra State.
“If you go to Asaba, Lagos, Kano, and even abroad, our youths are running away. And then again, we now turn around to start taking actions, and putting measures in place that will further chase away some of them that decided to remain, and do their business in the state,” he added.
Dr Obidigbo said the exodus from the state will heavily impact the economy of the state, and regretted that it was the wrong time to demolish the market.
“Even if it is mild or whatever, it is very wrong timing to start doing any form of demolition, especially within that Onitsha Main Market area, because the interpretation will be that he is carrying out the threat he made against the traders because of the Monday sit-at-home saga.”
He also said there is an impression that the demolition was the initiative of people outside the state who might not have meant well for the state.
He said the market might not regain its glory after the rebuilding of the market as planned by the governor.
“You should have a serious meeting with the traders, and Ndi-Anambra as well not only with the people in the market, but the people of Anambra State to let them understand what he wants to do in the market.”
“Whether it is, people must misinterpret whatever he is doing there. So, as I told him before, carry the people along. Let the people understand what you are doing, not just the traders, but the people of Anambra State. In fact, the entire Ndigbo, let them understand what you want to do.
“They said you want to do park, what is the importance of that park to the market? What impression are you giving, people are misunderstanding whatever thing you think you are doing, and they didn’t see it as something that will benefit them.”