By Nwanosike Onu, Awka; Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu; Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia; Chris Njoku, Owerri and Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki
Monday sit-at-home entered its 12th week yesterday in three states of the Southeast with transporters in Abia demanding palliatives from the enforcers of the order.
The three states-Anambra, Abia and Imo- had schools, markets as well as private and public offices shut again as people stayed home out of fear of molestation by hoodlums.
Residents of Enugu State were however courageous enough to carry out their normal activities. But in Ebonyi State, there was partial compliance with the order by the residents.
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had on August 9, 2021 declared every Monday a sit-at home in the Southeast until its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was released from detention.
But the directive was called off by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful under controversial circumstances. One of the directors of the group, Chika Edozien, countered Powerful, saying that the cancellation order must come from Kanu himself.
In Anambra State yesterday, residents still opted to observe the Ghost Monday despite assurances of protection by Governor Willie Obiano and the Police command.
The Nation observed that from Onitsha to Nnewi and Ekwulobia to Awka, banks, schools and markets were shut
Obiano had appealed to the residents and bank managements not to listen to non- state actors ,adding that security operatives were equal to the task of protecting lives and properties in the state.
At the weekend, the government announced that schools would open on Saturdays to make up for the loss of classes by pupils on Mondays.
Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) Patrick Ugboaja, explained to The Nation that the decision was in the interest of “our children and education in general.”
Read Also: How to end IPOB’s sit-at-home, by Mbaka
Streets in Aba and Umuahia in Abia State were devoid of their usual traffic congestion as residents spent the day indoors.
Gates of state and federal government offices were under lock and key while the popular Aba Abattoir located along the Ogbor Hill Waterside axis was a ghost of itself.
However, transporters in the state appealed to the enforcers of the sit-at-home order to give them palliatives to cushion the effects of the lockdown.
They complained that the transport sector was the worst hit by the order as their vehicles were usually attacked or vandalised.
Henry Okezie, chairman, Abia State Drivers’ Welfare Union, said the exercise had dealt a deadly blow on the transport sector.
He said, “This frequent sit-at-home is really affecting us because we can’t operate if we don’t see passengers.
“Most of our members have their vehicles on a hire purchase; which means that we must work every day to meet the target.
“We are appealing to the enforcers of this exercise to give us some palliatives in order to cushion the effect.
“We have over 200 members at this Isigate Park in Umuahia whose buses are operating on Umuahia-Ikwuano and Umuahia-Ubakala routes.
“Each of us make a minimum of N10,000 daily. So any day we don’t work lose over N2 million on average.”
Okezie said they would continue to comply in fear with the directive because “some of our vehicles got damaged while some passengers were injured the other time we flouted it.”
Some residents also appealed to the Southeast governors stakeholders and the Federal Government to dialogue with IPOB since they are unable to guarantee the safety of the people.
Our correspondent, who monitored the situation in Owerri, Imo State reported that commercial activities were shut down as business owners and workers remained in-doors.
The ever-busy Ama-Hausa along Douglas Road, Owerri where Bureau de Change operators hold sway was also empty
Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB) decried the lockdown, saying it would disrupt school calender except teachers put in extra hours to cover up lost grounds.
“To my understanding it is making some of the lessons students were supposed to have during the week as their timetables are been disrupted due to the closure”, its Spokesman, Pet Anurunwa, said.
A former Rector of Bethel Seminary Secondary School, Rev.Okechukwu Amadi said the constant sit-at-home was not to the best interest of students.
He said closure of schools every Monday ”will surely affect learning, and any venture that affects education does not worth it.”
Ebonyi however witnessed partial compliance of the sit-at-home by following a directive by the state government to its workers.
Schools were opened in Abakaliki with students in attendance. Banks and other business outfits along major roads like Ogoja Water Works and Afikpo also opened.
But most shops at the state government-owned international market and major motor parks remained shut.
However, there were noticeable economic activities in Enugu metropolis as many residents hit the streets for their daily activities.
Private vehicles, commercial buses and tricycles were seen on the roads while some petrol stations, business centres, offices and shops opened.
Schools and malls however remained shut while banks, malls, markets, motor parks, schools that opened did not witness high turnout of customers.