GOV. SOLUDO CANNOT FORCE OR PUNISH PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNERS TO CLOSE OR OPEN THEIR SHOPS OR TO TRADE OR REFRAIN FROM TRADING- HON OBI AGUOCHA(THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON MONITORING AND EVALUATION). (PHOTO).

 Gov. Soludo cannot force or punish private business owners to close or open their shops or to trade or refrain from trading- Hon Obi Aguocha(The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation)

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Obi Aguocha, has warned Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, against attempts to end the Monday sit-at-home directive, cautioning that this action might worsen insecurity throughout the South-East.

Aguocha, representing the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State, stated that the attempts by him and other stakeholders to stabilize the region were slowly producing results prior to what he referred to as the recent intervention by Gov. Soludo.

“Gov. Soludo, unfortunately, has unleashed terror on an army of silent agitators who, for so long, had helped to abate the significance of the Monday sit-at-home rituals,” Aguocha said.

"Over the last three years, many markets, plazas, and shopping centers across the Southeast have gradually returned to normalcy, operating freely and unencumbered. I have worked tirelessly in this direction, and peace was steadily returning to our rural and commercial trading centers in Southeast centers"

He opined that while the governor’s intention to end the sit-at-home might be well-meaning, the method adopted was counterproductive.

Aguocha stressed that a state government has no legal authority to compel private business owners to open or close their shops.

“Gov. Soludo cannot force or punish private business owners to close or open their shops or to trade or refrain from trading,” he said.

He queried whether similar punitive measures would be applied to those who close their businesses early on Wednesdays to attend midweek religious services.

Speaking on the broader security crisis, the lawmaker said the failure of the Federal Government to address core grievances in the region remained a major driver of unrest.