Workers, marketers and transporters as well as residents of Awka and adjoining towns of Anambra state on Monday ignored order by the State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, to resume normal socio-economic economic activities and to ignore Sit-At-Home directive by members of the Indigenous People of Biafran,(IPOB).
Checks by the Network at the various markets within Awka the state capital, particularly Eke Awka,,Amawbia, Enugu Ukwu and Unizik Temp Site Markets, and others around the town showed non compliance by the market women and traders
All the markets were under lock and key.
The entrance/exit gates at the Eke Awka daily market were locked except for roadside hawkers and petty business women operating along the road.
Also, all the shops and business premises along the Amawbia/State Command headquarters Road to the popular Ziks Avenue and Nkwor Amaenyi Market were deserted as people did not open for businesses.
Commercial bus operators plying various routes within and outside Awka town, the commercial town of Onitsha and Nnewi were off the routes while the various motor parks were empty.
There was, however, skeletal businesses by shop owners few kilometers away from the markets.
Tricycle operators and few shuttle bus drivers have a field day as they ply some routes to convey people to various destinations.
At the State Secretariat, Awka, located close to Aroma Junction, off Enigi-Awka-Onitsha expressway, some workers were seen discussing in groups in their offices, although, the environment was not business- like as it used to be.
Further findings revealed that students in public secondary schools and primary schools did not go to school except those in few private achools.
Commercial banks were worst hit as those along Ziks Avenue and few poles away from Regina Junction along Enugu-Awka-Onitsha express, Nnewi, Nkpor, Onitsha and Ihiala towns did not open for business.
Recall that Governor Soludo had during his inauguration on March 17th 2022 as elected sixth Governor of the state declared his commitment to initiate dialogue with all groups including the proscribed IPOB, Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafran (MASSOB) and others.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) led government of Prof. Soludo had with leaders of various markets, transporters and parks across the 21 local government areas and three Senatorial Districts of the state, ordered that they should begin normal business activities on Mondays and ignore the sit-at-home directive by the IPOB leadership.
Although, IPOB had since asked residents of the five states in the South East geo political zone to begin normal socio-economic activities including opening of markets and business operations, the directive has been largely ignored.
Investigations showed that IPOB has been factionized leading to confusion in the operations of the body in some states of the zone.
The Sit-At-Home directive by IPOB is aimed at mobilizing support and sympathy of Ndigbo for the leader of the group, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently undergoing trial at the Federal High Court Abuja for treasonable felony, terrorism and other criminal charges.
Kanu is being detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) Abuja.
The case is expected to come up on April 8th 2022 the court.
It reported that estimated N15billion is lost to Southeast each week due to the ongoing Sit-At-Home directive by IPOB.
It is the general belief in the Southeast that Soludo and the governors of the other four states should match words with action by providing adequate security before normal activities can resume.
