Soludo Can’t Force You to Open Shops, But Kanu Can Force You to Close?” — Joe Igbokwe
The ongoing controversy over sit-at-home orders in the South-East has taken a new turn following a pointed statement by the Eculaw Group, widely shared on social media by politician and activist Joe Igbokwe.
The group’s statement criticized traders and residents who refuse to comply with government directives while submitting to orders issued by non-state actors, highlighting what it called a contradiction in the exercise of personal rights.
In its statement, Eculaw posed a rhetorical question that struck at the heart of the debate: “We have rights! Governor Soludo cannot force us to open our shops! But Nnamdi Kanu can force them to close them?” The comment reflects growing frustration among residents and observers who see the continued enforcement of sit-at-home orders as irrational and economically self-defeating.
The remark comes in the wake of Anambra State Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s recent warnings to traders who continue to shut down markets on Mondays.
Soludo had stated that any shops intentionally closed during sit-at-home days risk being repossessed and reassigned to individuals willing to operate, arguing that economic activity should not be held hostage by fear.
While some have cited personal freedoms to justify their noncompliance with the governor’s directive, Eculaw’s statement turns that argument on its head, questioning why the same individuals who defend their rights against an elected government appear powerless in the face of intimidation from non-state actors.
By sharing the statement on his official Facebook page, Joe Igbokwe reiterated his longstanding criticism of self-imposed disruptions in the South-East.
He has consistently argued that the region cannot claim marginalization or economic neglect while actively participating in measures that stifle commerce and daily life.
According to Igbokwe, surrendering civic authority to fear-driven compliance only worsens local crises and undermines legitimate governance.
At the center of the ongoing dispute is Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Although IPOB has at times denied issuing sit-at-home directives, the perception of threat from armed enforcers associated with the group has kept markets, schools, and streets largely deserted on Mondays.
