There is an old saying: when a tse-tse fly perches on your scrotum, you quickly learn that not all problems can be solved with force and sledgehammer. Wisdom, patience, and tact often achieve what brute action cannot.
When Governor Chukwuma Soludo made the hasty decision to shut down Onitsha Main Market—the economic lifeline of the Igbo people—for five days, it became immediately clear that he had misjudged the moment. The sit-at-home phenomenon was largely organic and, by all indications, was gradually losing steam. What it required was sustained dialogue, diplomacy, confidence-building, and strategic engagement—not a sudden action that risked inflaming tensions and punishing innocent traders.
No state government has administratively ever shut Otu Nkwo Onitsha.
Markets are not mere clusters of stalls; they are living institutions that sustain families, communities, and entire regional economies. Decisions affecting them must, therefore, be measured, consultative, and humane.
When the dust settles, I urge Prof. Soludo to look beyond closures and embrace transformation. My manifesto outlines a bold vision: upgrading Onitsha Main Market to international standards, with modern infrastructure, enhanced security, proper sanitation, digital payment systems, logistics hubs, and amenities commensurate with the size and strategic importance of the market.
In today’s world, markets are no longer just commerce open spaces or mere geographical locations. They are vibrant evolving institutions embedded in e-commerce, technology, and global supply chains. Anambra State must position its markets to compete, connect, and thrive in this new economic reality.
At this critical moment, the government must ensure that no lives or properties are lost. It should deploy back-channel engagement and quiet diplomacy to restore normalcy to the market. This is not the time to prove “I am the Governor.” It is the time to govern wisely.
Force may compel compliance for a moment, but only dialogue, vision, and development can deliver lasting peace and prosperity. Beyond shutdowns, Prof. Soludo must reimagine Onitsha Main Market for a truly digital future.
John Chuma Nwosu
(ADC Anambra Gubernatorial Candidate 2025)
