Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has not banned prayers in markets in the state, the State Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu has said.
The clarification by the Commissioner was in reaction to some viral insinuations on social media that the Governor has stopped traders from coming together to pray in the markets.
Across the various Anambra markets, separate days have been observed for morning prayers which usually last from the hours of 8am to 10am, before market activities commence in earnest.
In some markets, however, it was also observed that most of these morning prayers are sometimes extended by long hours, inhibiting smooth business activities.
Recently, rumours had spread that Governor Soludo had banned such prayers in some markets across the state, especially those found to be having the challenge of extended prayer hours.
“How can Governor Soludo ban prayers in our markets when he starts every day with prayer?” Sir Nwosu queried when our correspondent accosted him with the question.
The Commissioner revealed that the Governor starts every single day with either a Mass where a Catholic Priest officiates or a Service where an Anglican Reverend or Pentecostal Pastor presides.
“A man who places premium on morning devotions cannot ask others not to engage in morning prayers,” Sir Nwosu stressed.
The Commissioner explained that what Mr. Governor alluded to which was misrepresented, was that traders should hold their morning devotions in a manner that is consistent with their occupation, bearing in mind that customers would have come from far and wide to shop.
“Incidentally, a good number of these customers come from out of the state to sleep over so that they can do their shopping early enough and return to their far-flung destinations.
“But when these customers from far places wait for too long without the market stalls being opened, they sadly leave due to frustration.
“This is not good customer care,” Sir Nwosu informed.
The Commissioner urged the traders to start every business week on Mondays with prayers and see how blessings will propel all their endeavours.
Prayer, he said, is the master key that ultimately unlocks challenges they might have been facing in their businesses.
