By Cajetan Mmuta
Deviant as ever, residents of Awka the Anambra state capital, and adjoining towns yesterday stayed indoors in observance of the Sit-At-Home order as directed by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the five states of the Southeast geopolitical of the country.
Already, traders and residents of the affected states have continued to groan over the losses and other economic implications of the Sit-At-Home order as it now tells much of their businesses as it relates to daily income while social activities are on the standstill.
Findings have revealed that people of the Southeast zone and IPOB members appear helpless following the continued incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is undergoing trial by the federal government and presently in the confinement of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
This development came amid confusion and speculations of the possibility of the Sit-At-Home order holding yesterday as against the previous statement three weeks ago of an indefinite suspension of the directive.
However, all the major roads including the Onitsha-Awka-Enugu expressway; Awka-Nnewi road, Awka-Abagana-Onitsha route, and Onitsha-Owerri road were deserted while popular Eke Awka daily Market, Main Market Onitsha, New Spare Parts Market Nkpor, Nkwor Nnewi Auto Spare Parts Market; filling stations, motor parks, and other business outlets were shut on the process.
As of evening on weekend (Saturday), reports had it that the leadership of Eke Awka daily Market allegedly made a public announcement that there would be no market on Monday (yesterday) due to the Sit-At-Home directive by IPOB.
Checks at the State Secretariat in Awka, workers did not turn to their offices despite the earlier threat by Governor Willie Obiano not to pay any worker who fails to report for duty the August salary because of the IPOB directive.
There was no presence of security anywhere as used to be the case around strategic locations especially popular Aroma, Regina, and Temporary Site junctions, parks, and markets, although, police patrol teams were sighted in the early hours of yesterday.
Besides the absence of vehicular movements, tricycle operators were seen making brisk businesses as they ply the various routes to convey passengers to their destinations within the towns.
In addition, all the commercial banks and supermarkets along Zik’s Avenue and Awka-Enugu expressway were shut even as schools including the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Unizik) Awka did not open for normal academic activities.
Speaking on the situation, a woman who gave her name as Mrs. Clara Ogonna said, “The time has come for both the federal government and those of them in the five Southeast states in the country to take a definite stand on this IPOB matter because it is crippling the economy and people are being subjected to undue suffering to add to what faces them generally across the nation.”
Maduabuchi Nnabuife, an artisan, noted that the IPOB weekly directive seriously affects the daily income of the poor to cater to their families.
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He said, “I am not happy about the directive because nobody can take care of my family and those of some of us who do the same work on a daily basis. We are helpless and I pray it stops and let the government look into it to save the poor man and their families”.
Police Public Relations Officer of the State command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga when contacted yesterday said the personnel of the command had been deployed to strategic locations to ensure law and order.”
“As we speak they are at different syrategic locations, you can see them at Amawbia Roundabouts and all the Flyovers; all hands are on deck for effective security of lives and property in the state,” he stated.
