When I read about the temporary closure of the Onitsha Main Market and then followed the predictable reactions of the traditional critics of the Charles Chukwuma Soludo-led APGA government, the very first thing that came to my mind was the alleged recent confessions attributed to former Governor Kayode Fayemi.
According to those reports, Fayemi admitted that the APC political machine knew that the Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP federal government was largely on the right track in terms of economic recovery, infrastructure development, and national transformation, yet deliberately chose to oppose it through propaganda—misleading Nigerians into fighting their own government. History has since been unkind to that strategy, as many of the economic and infrastructural gains of the Jonathan era have either been reversed or squandered.
That confession, if nothing else, should serve as a cautionary tale for Nigerians: not all criticism is principled, and not all opposition is patriotic.
Separating Noise from Substance
In the heated exchanges that followed the Onitsha Main Market closure, I deliberately took my time to sift through the commentaries, reactions, and counter-reactions. Most were emotional, partisan, or plainly opportunistic. Only one intervention stood out as sensible, responsible, and worthy of serious attention—the appeal by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), under the leadership of Chief Akajiugo Emeka Obegolu, SAN.
Rather than grandstanding, the ACCI called for dialogue, economic sensitivity, and collaborative problem-solving. That intervention acknowledged the enormous economic cost of the Monday sit-at-home culture while also recognising the devastating impact a prolonged market closure could have on traders, SMEs, and national supply chains.
It is instructive—and commendable—that the Soludo-led government listened. A meeting has now been fixed for Thursday with the leadership of the traders’ unions. Equally noteworthy is the fact that the leadership of the Onitsha Main Market traders has publicly commended the government’s approach. These are not signs of authoritarianism; they are hallmarks of governance.
My Politics, My Honesty
Let me be clear: I am not APGA, and I have not been an admirer of Professor Soludo. I particularly found his attacks on Senator Uche Ekwunife during the governorship election distasteful and unnecessary. But intellectual honesty demands that personal political preferences must not blind us to facts.
Despite anyone’s views, Professor Soludo has demonstrated the guts and courage to take hard decisions—the kind many politicians avoid, especially when elections are near.
The manner in which his administration refused to interfere with judicial processes involving high-profile figures, including the Akwa Okuko of Oba matter, even in the heat of electoral calculations, speaks volumes. That is not the behaviour of a weak or opportunistic leader.
Sit-At-Home: A Security Issue, Not a Popular Choice
What is at stake in the sit-at-home enforcement and the temporary closure of the Onitsha Main Market is purely a security matter. This madness called sit-at-home is not a lawful protest; it is an unconventional, coercive, and economically destructive practice that has held the South-East hostage for far too long.
I do not claim to know everyone who participated in the so-called demonstrations in Anambra recently. However, it is telling that over five traders I personally spoke with from the Main Market supported the closure as a necessary evil to bring finality to the issue.
That fact alone should caution against the lazy narrative that “the people” are universally opposed to government action.
Monday Must Mean Business Again
The grand reopening of the Onitsha Main Market is scheduled for Monday, 2 February 2026, and it is expected to mark not just the resumption of commercial activity but the definitive end of the sit-at-home culture in Anambra State.
However, the government must not be naïve. Evil does not surrender quietly. Those who profit from fear, chaos, and economic paralysis will fight back.
Therefore, the Anambra State Government must leave no stone unturned in providing robust, visible, and sustained security—especially in the coming Mondays. The traders must feel safe. Transporters must feel confident. Buyers must be reassured.
This is not about punishment; it is about reclaiming normalcy.
Why This Matters Personally
I almost wept when I saw Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace, speak about visiting his village last week for the first time in almost five years, a painful absence imposed not by choice but by the harsh realities of insecurity. When successful, law-abiding citizens cannot safely return home for years, something is fundamentally broken.
Anything—anything—that genuinely aims to restore security, dignity, and economic life in Anambra State deserves support, even if it is uncomfortable in the short term.
Conclusion: Support Hard Choices, Reject Propaganda
This is not the time for cheap politics or recycled propaganda. The Soludo administration has shown openness to dialogue, respect for stakeholders, and firmness in confronting an abnormal situation. That balance should be encouraged, not sabotaged.
The sit-at-home culture must stop. Markets must open. Lives and livelihoods must be protected. Security must be restored.
History will not judge us by how loudly we criticised, but by whether we supported the difficult steps required to return our state—and our region—to peace and productivity.
—Obunike Ohaegbu
Writes from his village in Anambra State.
28 January 2026
