The Enugu State Government has frowned at an alleged plan by some market leaders to shut down major markets within the capital city on Saturday, warning that it would not tolerate such move no matter how well intended.
The warning was handed down in a statement Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr Malachy Agbo following moves to close markets in Enugu to show support during a rally organised in support of the reelection of Governor Peter Mbah and President Bola Tinubu.
The organisers of the Enugu East zonal rally regard closure of markets as evidence of their support for Tinubu and Mbah’s second term bids.
But government disagreed with the organisers, saying that it has not given its blessings to markey closure as a show of solidarity.
It argued that any move to shut down markets “contradicts the Mbah Administration’s determined effort to boost investment, business and productivity in the state”.
Government stated that people should feel free to go about their businesses, a predisposition, it said “prompted the decision of the Mbah Administration to end illegal Monday sit-at-home effective June 5, 2023”.
The statement equally maintained that political association remains an individual right and choice, hence “participation in the Saturday rally and subsequent rallies by any group should never truncate businesses or involve any form of compulsion”.
It pointed out that while the Mbah government “appreciates the enormous demonstration of goodwill by traders across the state, it frowns at any attempt by any market leader to shut down major markets in the Enugu East Senatorial District on account of the planned rally”.
“This is not only contrary to the administration’s vision and drive to grow Enugu State’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, and also to position the state as the preferred destination for investment, business, tourism and living, but also the decision of the administration to ban illegal sit-at-home effective June 5, 2023,” the statement said.
“Furthermore, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees freedom of association and assembly. Thus, nothing should be seen to detract from these rights in this or future rallies by any group whatsoever.
“For emphasis, political participation should be voluntary and without any attempt to deny the people access to markets or other public spaces where they earn their daily living”.
Government, therefore, informed members of the public, particularly leaderships of various markets in the state, that “government will not hesitate to impose sanctions on any action” that tend to contradict its position on growing the state economy.
