(DDM) – A public policy analyst, Barrister Christopher Chidera, has stated that the sit-at-home declared on Monday, February 2, 2026, by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) successfully paralyzed Anambra State by 85 percent.
Chidera told journalists in Umuahia that the action was staged in solidarity with traders of Onitsha Main Market and effectively brought daily activities across the state to a near halt.
He said streets were largely empty, while banks, schools, offices, and other markets remained shut, with independent photo and video evidence confirming the scale of the disruption.
According to the analyst, Governor Chukwuma Soludo made desperate efforts to counter the impact of the sit-at-home, but his interventions were largely theatrical and ineffective.
Chidera claimed Soludo’s announcement to demolish about 10,000 shops in Onitsha Main Market was a reaction to the humiliation caused by the successful sit-at-home.
He argued that the governor’s visit to the market around 2–3 p.m. was not to inspect functioning businesses, but to stage a performance with a rented crowd of about 400 supporters.
The analyst noted that these individuals were reportedly choreographed to clap, chant, and sing praises for television cameras, particularly for BBC Igbo coverage.
Chidera emphasized that no serious trader would abandon an open shop to cheer a governor, arguing that the staged crowd could not reflect genuine market activity.
He stressed that a confident governor walks through bustling stalls, greeting traders and observing commerce, rather than addressing a hired crowd at a corner of the market.
According to Chidera, the governor’s actions represented “damage control” rather than leadership, and the purported demolition threat was a desperate attempt to regain political credibility.
The analyst further alleged that Soludo’s performance was influenced by aspirations for national office, suggesting that he aimed to impress “distant” political masters in anticipation of a possible vice-presidential bid in 2031.
Chidera criticized the use of logistics and funds to hire supporters, arguing that these efforts could not erase the historical record of the sit-at-home’s success.
He insisted that the live video evidence from the day clearly showed the paralysis of the market and wider South-East region, making propaganda ineffective.
The analyst concluded that photographs may be misleading, but live videos provide irrefutable proof of public action and response.
Chidera’s observations have sparked conversations about the effectiveness of IPOB’s tactics and the political messaging strategies of Governor Soludo.
Observers note that the sit-at-home highlights growing tensions between state authorities and socio-political movements in the South-East.
The analyst’s claims have also fueled debate over leadership credibility, governance approach, and the political motives behind public statements and market interventions in Anambra State.
As the region continues to monitor responses to IPOB’s actions, questions remain about the long-term political consequences for both Governor Soludo and the South-East’s commercial hubs.
This development has intensified scrutiny on how state leaders engage with civic protests and address the grievances of citizens and market stakeholders.
