A frontline activist, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo, has threatened to sue Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, over the proposed demolition of Afor Nnobi Market, at Nnobi community in Idemili South Local Government Area of the State.
Okonkwo, who is a prominent son of Nnobi community, issued the threat in a statement released electronically by his media office on Thursday.
He accused Governor Soludo of trying to destroy one of the top five traditional markets in Anambra State, not for overriding public interest, as stipulated by the law, but to achieve a parochial agenda.
According to Okonkwo, the Governor wants Afor Nnobi to give way, in order to shift commercial activities in the market to the nearby Ekwulobia Market in Aguata Local Government Area, where he hails from.
He argued that if Soludo could build a flyover and a brand new ultra-modern market at Ekwulobia alone, nothing stops him from building one flyover across Afor Nnobi to ease traffic, rather than destroying a traditional market that offers thousands of rural people their daily bread.
Okonkwo said: “I went to court to retrieve the market from the Anambra State Government in 1996 during the military administration of Colonel Mike Attah.
“The case number at the Federal High Court Enugu was FHC/AN/5/95. I sued, being the one issued the Power of Attorney by the Traditional Ruler, H.R.H. Igwe E. Ezeokoli II (now late), as the custodian of the market.
“We were initially granted an order of interim injunction, restraining three of the defendants-the Attorney-General, Anambra State, Commissioner of Police, Anambra State and Idemili Local Government Area-their agents, servants/workmen and/privies, from carrying out their intention to take over Afor Obi Market, including the realms of the deities ‘Idemili Ezenwanyi and Ichiabia’ as stated in the plaintiff’s palace, pending the determination of the motion on notice brought in respect of the said Traditional Afor Nnobi Market, Nnobi.
“Ruling In the substantive suit, the Judge made a finding that it has not been shown before the court that the said market is the property of the Nnobi Welfare Organization (NWO) to make the purported transfer to come under Section 679 of CAMA and Section 230 (1) (e) of the said Decree 107. The court agreed with us that Afor Nnobi is a traditional market.
“Nobody appealed the judgment. So, Igwe handed over the market to me and I gave it back to the community. Hence, Anambra State Government cannot come through the back door to relocate the market under the pretense of constructing a dual carriage way.
“If the market blocks a road, you first of all send estate surveyors to look at the value of market and not just asking the people affected to look for a new site for the market.
“Before talking about the demolition of Afor Nnobi, let Governor Soludo show us in the 2025 Anambra State Budget, where he made the provisions for both the construction of the dual carriage road and the compensation for those to be affected by the construction work, including the traders at Afor Nnobi Market.
“Who are the consultants for the road project? Where is the design of the road? Who are the engineers that designed the road?
“Where is the environmental impact assessment report? Who are the environmental consultants? Who is the contractor?”
“That road is a Trunk B Road. Where is the approval issued to the Anambra State Government by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) through the Federal Ministry of Works, Highway Department for the construction of the road?
“Did the award of the contract comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which says that you cannot award a contract without a matching fund for it? Soludo and the contractors are liable to damages because we are suing them for wasting our money.”
Besides, Okonkwo made it clear that under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), communities and States can no longer build markets.
He said the Fourth Schedule of the same Constitution explicitly lists the functions of the Local Government Council, including the establishment; maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, markets, Motor Park and public conveniences.
The activist maintained that the Governor ought to have considered the economic consequences of the demolition of the market under the prevailing economic situation in the country, being that Afor Nnobi is a thriving market for poultry and other food commodities, from which thousands of people from Nnobi, old Idemili zone, other parts of Anambra State and beyond, make their livelihood.
He berated Governor Soludo of showing insensitivity to the wellbeing of the masses, whereas the Constitution in Section 14 (b) under the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, makes it sacrosanct that “that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
He added: “Governor Soludo thinks that everybody in Anambra State is a trader and businessman and cannot ask questions when the government is acting recklessly and with impunity.
“He thinks that everybody is one of his students. Some of us have been vying for governorship when he was living in the government quarters in the university free of charge.
“How can he be building new Government House without a budget? We will call him to account for all the money.
“We have endured three and half years of his deceptive administration and we are going to flush him out of Government House.”
Plans to relocate the market was announced at a meeting that took place between stakeholders of Nnobi community and representatives of Anambra State Government on Sunday, March 23, 2025.
After the meeting, the Chairman of Ngo Nnobi Development Union (NNDU), Hon. Oluchukwu Onwugbenu announced via a WhatsApp message that four new sites have been selected for the market at Agu Awuda, Agu Umuagu, Offiah Idemili and Agwu Icha, all located at Nnobi.
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