Traders in Anambra State have demanded immediate and unconditional release of leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to assist in full restoration of business activities on Mondays across the Southeast geo-political zone.
They attributed non-compliance to government’s directive to carrying out sanitation exercise on Mondays before opening of shops, as part of restoring Monday business activities to continued detention of the IPOB leader.
The traders spoke when the President of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), Chief Humphrey Anuna visited Ochanja Central market in continuation of markets’ inspection and to seal those who disobey government directives.
Welcoming the ASMATA President to the market, Chairman of the market, Chief Bonaventure Muo, said that traders were uncomfortable with the shutting down of business activities on Mondays because of the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu.
Muo who spoke through his secretary, Hon. Obinna Maduka, flanked by his personal Assistant, Chukwudi Okafor, acknowledged improvement in the turn up of traders on Mondays.
He called on Southeast governors to rise up to the challenge, including meeting with President Bola Tinubu with a view to releasing Kanu to ensure restoration of lost glory of the markets in the zone.
He said, “The traders prefer Saturdays for the sanitation and prayers because few vehicles are on the road to take them to their various markets coupled with the fact that security can not be hundred per cent guaranteed. We are supposed to see joint security operatives patroling the streets.
“Sanitation is good but drivers make it cumbersome for traders as they disappear from the roads on Mondays. Monday is the first day of business activities but the Monday business dropped drastically that it affected other days.
“Activities in the Southeast are for three days now, Tuesday to Thursday, others are for functions like burials, marriages, among others.
“Southeast governors should hold the bull by the horn, rise up to the challenge by meeting with President Bola Tinubu with a view to releasing Kanu if the lost glory of the markets will be restored.”
Responding, ASMATA President, Chief Anuna, underscored the place of sanitation exercise in markets, including attraction of investors and creation of enabling environment for business transactions.
“Cleanliness is Godliness, it attracts business and investors in the State and is also a good environment for comfortable business transactions. We go round to ensure that traders abide by government directive that prayers, sanitation exercise and opening of markets take place on Mondays.
“We in ASMATA are interested in the restoration of the lost glory of the markets in the State by ensuring that government directives are carried out to the letter.
“Traders should not try us by shutting their shops on Mondays. Government has provided enough security and that is why we comfortably move round the state to monitor the markets and seal those that don’t want to comply with the directive,” he warned.
