Gov enforces Enugu sit-at-home ban, visits market, others

The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, on Monday, went round the metropolis to observe compliance with the ban he placed last week on Monday sit-at-home usually declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra to protest the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government.

The state government, in a statement, quoted the governor as saying that there was about 70 per cent compliance with his directive.

On a typical sit-at-home day, the streets in South-East states deserted, schools do not open while business activities are grounded.

But the Enugu governor last week� described the exercise as injurious to the economy of the state, noting that his administration would not allow it to continue.

Mbah threatened that the state would shut schools, markets,� transport units and businesses that fail to open for business on Monday.

Despite the threats, however, our correspondent, who went round the metropolis on Monday morning, reported that there were no business activities while major roads were deserted.

There was a heavy presence of security agents in various strategic places, while surveillance aircraft were also seen hovering around the state capital.

Places, such as Holy Ghost, Old Park, Garrik, Emene, Eke-Obinagu, Abakpa and Zik Avenue, visited by our correspondent were totally deserted as of 7:30am on Monday.

Schools both within the city centre and outskirts of the state capital were shut while filing stations were also shut. At the Holy Ghost area, all transport companies were totally closed. At Old Orie Emene, Abakpa and Garrik commuters deserted roads.

A few buses and tricycle operators seen at� New Haven and Ogui Road had no passengers to carry. Some private vehicles were also seen plying the road, especially those going to hospital or hospital workers.

�However, from 11am some people started coming out after news went out that the governor was moving around, monitoring� compliance to his directive.

In a statement, the governor�s media team� quoted Mbah to have commended civil servants, transporters, the business community and other institutions in the state for the significant compliance with government�s directive ending the Monday sit-at-home order.

Mbah, during the monitoring at the government ministries, departments and agencies, and markets, reiterated his� resolve to secure residents� lives and property.

The statement said, �Mbah also visited several markets, including the Akwata section of Ogbete Market, Mayor Market situated along Agbani Road, among others, where he was warmly received by happy traders and their leaders.�

Mbah said, �We do have a compliance level of about 60 to 70 per cent; and the order took effect from today. I am aware the circular to this effect was sent out on Friday. It may well be that not all the workers got the information that we no longer have sit-at-home on Mondays.

�Whether we succeed or fail in ending sit-at-home, we do that together as Enugu people. If we succeed, our collective success means we can rise together against intimidation. It is not anybody�s or government�s success. We need to take collective responsibility for our decision.�

He reiterated that his promise to improve the economic fortunes of the state was dependent on �inflow of private sector investments into our state and the private sector cannot come into a state where the people are not productive. The private sector thrives on big markets and a vibrant workforce.�

Meanwhile, IPOB, in a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, said it was in support of Enugu governor�s ban on sit-at-home.

It, however, cautioned the governor against the use of force on the people, saying the police know the criminals enforcing the �non-existent sit-at-home.�

IPOB said, �After our leadership initiated the Monday sit-at-home order to demand� the release of our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leadership has long directed the stoppage of the exercise to avoid criminals capitalising on that to harm our people.

�The Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mba, should be made aware that IPOB has already suspended Monday sit-at-home. For him to publicly associate IPOB with Monday sit-at-home is obnoxious. If Mba wants to return normalcy on Mondays, he has the support of IPOB because those enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home are criminals.�

�Also, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, in a statement on Monday by its National Director of Information, Edeson Samuel, backed� government�s ban on sit-at-home.

�Even if the sit- at-home should last for one month or more, it is only our people and businesses that will suffer and not the Federal Government.

�We, the members of MASSOB, advised those agents working against the interest of our people and destabilisation of Igbo land to desist and give peace a chance,� it said.