Obi Appeals to Authorities: Rethink Onitsha Head Bridge Market Closure

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called for the Head Bridge Market in Onitsha to reopen so that those in need can survive and earn a living.
He claims that the move by security and regulatory organizations to completely shut down the market is having an impact on the innocent merchants who depend on it for their livelihood.
Obi said he recognizes and agrees that some parts of the market should be free of illegal, hard, and expired medications, but he urged the relevant authorities to do so without closing the market altogether.

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He claimed that the complete closure of the market has cut off the means of subsistence for some innocent dealers who deal in other legitimate materials.
According to reports, Obi submitted the information on Monday through a post on his 𝕏 account.

Due to suspected drug trafficking in the Ogbo Ogwu area of the Head Bridge Market in Onitsha, security and regulatory authorities have shuttered the entire market.

“While it is clear that such illegal drug trading is wrong and that the government should do everything in its power to stop the sale of counterfeit goods, particularly drugs, and bring those responsible to justice for the sake of public health and safety, I am concerned about and call for the immediate reopening of nearby markets that were also negatively impacted by the closure.

The closure of other nearby markets that are not engaged, such as Rod, Allied and Tools, Plumbing Materials, Timber, Surgical, and Provision Markets, in addition to the Ogbo Ogwu Market, appears excessive and unwarranted.

Given that their ongoing closure is negatively impacting millions of people’s livelihoods, particularly during this trying time in our nation, Peter Obi argued, “I therefore appeal for their immediate reopening.”

We Handled Similar Problems Further, when I was governor, Obi suggested that the state and other relevant authorities handle the situation in a more transparent and balanced manner because they must remember the financial impact of their actions on those who have been excluded from the market due to circumstances that are not their fault.

Additionally, the search should be transparent, with store owners present as the law and due procedure are followed to inspect their establishments and remove any materials.

Why open up additional marketplaces to the closure if the intention is to carry out a valid search? What offenses do they have?

In my stint as governor of Anambra state, we encountered similar circumstances on several occasions.

“We worked cooperatively and deliberately with the appropriate agencies to address any public health issues that we came across. We ensured fairness and due process by collaborating closely with security agencies and regulatory bodies in cases that required market interventions.

The livelihoods were protected and needless interruptions were avoided.

“To avoid causing unnecessary hardship to merchants, their families, and the state economy, the current approach should be reevaluated.

“Economic stability and security will both be improved by a more transparent and balanced approach.

“We should constantly keep in mind the collateral economic implications of nearby market closures while working toward the goal of improved public health. “-PO,” Obi said.