The High Court of Anambra state has asked Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State to halt plans of demolishing the Onitsha market.
Governor Soludo had announced plans to clear out the market shops at a recent meeting with community leaders, where he bemoaned what he termed the “deplorable state of the market”.
He stated that the market no longer attracts buyers like it did in the past. He thus said he would embark on a “painful” exercise to demolish the market to bring up to the standards of Taiwan.
But in a swift move, the traders who will be greatly affected by the exercise rushed to the court to ask the governor to halt the move as it would inflict grave hardship for the traders.
Ruling on the petition signed by traders of Human Fence Zone One Line of the Onitsha main Market, justice J. I. Nweze urged all parties to maintain status quo as at today pending the hearing of the substantive suit which is scheduled for 16th of March this year.
Some of the market traders who spoke to correspondents believe Soludo was merely out for vendetta and accuse the Governor of trying to confiscate the shops and give them to his cronies.
They lamented the hardship the demolition exercise will cause them in terms of monetary loss, stressing that the timing at these critical time was wrong.
Meanwhile, the United Igbo Elders Council has also appealed to Soludo to reconsider, suggesting alternative solutions like building extension markets or relocating some sections instead of outright demolition.
The Union further drew the attention of President Tinubu government to deter police involvement in the development. They stressed that Onitsha market is now a national treasure that should not be left in the hands of adventurous governors.
Mr Jude Nwafor, a resident and trader in Onitsha urge the Governor to avoid actions that would further deteriorate the fragile security situation in the State that is only beginning to improve lately.
Some of the traders told journalists that the court’s decision is a victory for the rule of law and human rights.
