Why Shutting Down Onitsha Market Is Executive Recklessness – Maxwell Opara Slams Governor Soludo (Video)

Nigerian lawyer Maxwell Opara has described Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision to shut down the Onitsha Main Market as an act of executive recklessness and an abuse of power.

Recall that Soludo announced the market closure on Monday, after the traders flaunted his orders to disregard the sit-at-home directive and resume business every Monday.

In an interview with ARISE Television, Opara explained that Soludo has infringed on the traders’ rights as human beings by putting an end to their private businesses.

He said, “The actions of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo in closing the market is executive recklessness and it is an abuse of power, and should be condemned.

“In the first instance, this thing is a private business. And they decide how, when, where, time to open and run their business. Now, nobody is coercing anybody in the market to sit at home. That is where the governor can come in.

"If there’s some people that are forcing people to close down their market and sit at home, that is where the governor can now come in. And the person forcing people to sit at home should be arrested. Now, if the market people on their own decide to sit at home on Mondays, that is their business. 

“Onitsha market and so many shops there are people’s private properties. And they run their business with their money. So coming to lock it up because they refuse to open market on Mondays, I think it’s executive recklessness and the governor should be sued, and actions filed against the governor for taking such reckless decision.”

Opara stressed that Soludo’s order to shut down the market was ineffective.

He noted, “How can it be effective? Go and see what is happening in Onitsha. You don’t give order and directives that cannot be complied with. The people have revolted now. Protest is going on in Anambra State now.”

Opara, however, advised that the best course of action for Governor Soludo is dialogue, adding that the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, will end the weekly sit-at-home order in Anambra State.

He said, “All these things have to do with dialogue. If you want to stop it, you call the management, you appeal to them, you give them assurance. You talk to the banks in Anambra State, talk to other establishments there, telling them the reason why they should come out. It is dialogue, addressing them. Not for you to use executive power as if we’re in the military regime.

“I am a lawyer representing Nnamdi Kanu. The Igbos love Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Over 90 percent of the Igbo people have respect for him. Now the best way to handle all these issues is for the government to look for a way to release Nnamdi Kanu.

"These people love Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. You see what happened in the market today? The song they were singing, they were praising Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, even in the face of his trial, his persecution and detention. So let the governor meet with his fellow governors, they should meet the president, and the resident should order than Nnamdi Kanu be released.”

“The Governor can’t compel businesses to resume operations.” —Barrister Maxwell Opara provides insight regarding the unlawful closure of the Onitsha main markets by Soludo. 🙏👏👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/ZDAAgNkm2P

— DELTA-IGBO-BOY (@ajai4real1) January 28, 2026