BY Vivian Chime
Enugu state residents have protested against the sit-at-home order being enforced by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Peter Mbah, the governor of Enugu, had on June 4, banned the sit-at-home order in the state. But many residents were still afraid of coming out.
However, on Monday, some residents, under the auspices of the coalition of civil society groups, staged a peaceful protest to encourage people to return to their businesses.
The protesters marched in the state capital chanting and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Enough is Enough”, “Say no to Sit at Home in Enugu” and “Our mumu don do” among others.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Onyinye Mammah, the executive director, Heroine Women Foundation, said the march was necessitated by the negative impact that the continued weekly sit-at-home has had on the economy of the state and the southeast region.
“How can you continue to do something that has not benefited you since it was started?” she asked.
“We pay school fees and our children don’t go to school; businesses are shut on Mondays, not because traders and organisations want to shut their businesses.
“A few people have decided to create anarchy, take laws into their hands and make life uncomfortable for others. We cannot continue this way and that is why we think there is a need to support governor Mbah in his effort to end Monday sit-at-home”.
Emmanuel Ede, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Enugu state chapter, said the protest was an indication that the Enugu people were no longer comfortable with the order of things.
“There is no better way to show support for what the Enugu state governor is doing to end the Monday sit-at-home than this march,” Ede said.
“It is a way to boost the morale and confidence of the people in the fact that they should go about their businesses. The truth is that the Enugu state government has done much in ensuring the safety and well-being of the people through the provision of security. Yet a good number of residents still stay indoors on Monday for fear.
“So, this is telling them that we are solidly behind the government on this and that security has been well improved.”
Meanwhile, officials of the Enugu state capital territory development authority (ECTDA) had moved around the state capital to seal off shops that disobeyed the sit-at-home ban.
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