Politics
By Benprince Ezeh
DESPITE the full movement order by some State governors in the South East, many residents still obeyed the usual Monday sit-at-home by Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in a now six-week exercise, which commenced on August 6.
Realnews monitored the five southeast States of Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu and reports that the mostly streets were deserted while banks, offices, schools, and major markets were closed in major cities of Onitsha, Aba, Nnewi, Awka, Abakiliki and Enugu.
Willie Obiano, governor of Anambra on Saturday, September 11, warned against obeying Monday’s sit-at-home order declared by IPOB, saying that banks, traders, and transporters should commence complete and uninterrupted economic activities from Monday.
His directive was contained in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Don Adinuba.
“This decision followed discussions with security agents and relevant stakeholders in the state. He said: “All markets, as well as motor parks and commercial vehicles, are henceforth to operate fully every Monday and any other weekday except any day declared work-free by the appropriate authorities.
“Before Governor Willie Obiano led a meeting yesterday between heads of security agencies and bank executives in the state, including those from the Awka branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, he had personally held frank and rewarding discussions with a large spectrum of leaders of the transport union and market association in Anambra State on why they had for the past five weeks have been shutting down their businesses every Monday.
“It is axiomatic that the good people of Anambra State and, indeed, the Southeast has for the past five weeks been grappling with a vicious cycle on a grand scale. Some pupils have missed terminal examinations, with all the grave implications for the competitiveness of the youngsters and for the future of our state.
“Since no responsible government can stand akimbo while the future of its people is destroyed gratuitously, Governor Obiano held useful discussions in the last couple of days with relevant groups with a view to freeing members to pursue their legitimate businesses.
“After all, the leadership of the organization on whose instructions some persons claim to enforce the stay-at-home order has since rescinded the order,” Obiano said.
Similarly, Governor Hope Uzodimma, during a church service at the Government House Chapel, Owerri, on Sunday, September 12, urged residents to go about their normal businesses, adding that those behind the sit-at-home order and rumours had been identified and would soon be arrested and arraigned.
Also, his counterpart in Ebonyi State, Governor Dave Umahi, had previously urged his people to ignore the sit-at-home order.
Some people interviewed by Realnews said that most people are afraid of losing their lives should the obey the state governors.
There fears are grounded in the fact that the governors have been incapable of arresting the insecurity in the region, or successfully arrest and prosecute those who have killed indigenes or destroyed farmlands, raped women and kidnap innocent citizens.
For instance, sequel to Uzodimma’s advise, adequate security was not made on Monday, September 13, for the students of Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkume Njaba in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State who were chased out of the examination hall by people suspected to be IPOB operatives.
The students and staff were pursued by enforcers of the sit-at-home order while they were about to write the West African Examination Council, WAEC, English Language Examination.
According to the Nation, “A group of men came into the school around 8.30 am to chase the students, staff, and invigilators and burnt down all the motorcycles parked on the premises.
Narrating her experience, a student, who gave her name as Ngozi, said: “Unknown gunmen came into the hall to ask us to stop our exams and chased us out. They also burnt bikes.”
However, some residents of Imo State on Monday made a volte-face and carried out their usual daily business activities.
While few vehicles were seen on the roads, some businesses, fast-food centers, artisans, street/roadside traders, supermarkets and mobile food vendors operated freely better than last Monday when streets and roads were deserted.
Although businesses at the major markets were not at its peak, a reasonable percentage of buying and selling went on in virtually all the local government areas of the state just as Okada riders ferried passengers to their various destinations unhindered.
In Owerri, the state capital, Wetheral, Douglas, Tetlow, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Okigwe, Mbaise, Aba and Orlu roads, vehicles were seen plying the roads even as intra and inter-city bus services were available for commuters.
However, some fear-stricken sensitive institutions such as banks, public and private schools, apprehensive of a possible invasion by hoodlums and miscreants remained closed for customers, students, and pupils.
The hospitality industry heaved a sigh of relief with guests seen trooping into hotels.
Nick Iwuoha, resident and a businessman, “If our security agencies have shown the slightest sign that they are capable of protecting the people, many citizens will defy these sit-at-home orders.
“It is becoming rampant and frivolous. I trust the Igbo man, it is just a matter of time, it will lose steam and public sympathy and the people will defy it. In the meantime, let the security agencies show they can protect the people.”
In Enugu, residents could not move about because commercial vehicles were off the road.
Nnenne Okeke, a resident of Trans–ekulu in Enugu Urban area, said it was difficult to see anyone walking on the road not to talk of those going to the market. “You dare not disobey the IPOB imposed sit-at-home,” she said, adding: “Ogbete main market, Artisan market, and even banks are on lock down, although you can only make use of the ATM machines because the workers are presumed to be inside to reload the machines but you can’t go inside,” she said.
Kingsley Enenta, a fashion designer who resides in 9th Mile observed that the only people selling are the street mini-shops and roadside hawkers.
Realnews reports that Willie Obiano, Anambra State governor, on Monday led a protest against the continued sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra and moved to some streets in Awka, the state capital to enforce the return to businesses in the state.
The governor, who led members of his executive council during the protest, visited banks and markets at the state capital.
At Eke Awka market, the governor asked traders to open their shops.
He said, “The state must avoid giving urchins the chance to take over the helm of affairs. I chose to lead from the front to end this fear of molestation, harassment, intimidation.
Gingered by the governor’s action, socioeconomic activities, including transportation, banking and market activities sprang up around 1 pm in the area in earnest.
While addressing transport leaders at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, on Sunday Obiano said “I urged the commuters to feel free to ply their usual routes across the state on Monday, whether they ride or drive motorcycles, keke, shuttle, buses.
“If markets don’t open, I will sack the leadership of the market. If the market and park leaders don’t comply, their leadership will be changed within two weeks.”
Realnews reports that IPOB had issued a sit-at-home order to be observed every Monday, to protest the re-arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu, its leader.
Realnews reports that due to criticism, the pro-Biafra group reviewed the order when it initially started, stressing that it would only be enforced whenever Kanu is to appear in court. But the people of the South East appear to have rejected the IPOB order and have decided on their own to continue the sit-at-home until Kanu, who is currently locked up by the Department of State Services, DSS, following his re-arrest from Kenya, is released.
Realnews reports that the trial of Kanu is to hold in October 21.
– Sept. 13, 2021 @ 18:58 GMT | C.E
Tags: IPOB Nnamdi Kanu sit-at-home
