By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
Mixed reactions have greeted the two-day sit-at-home by residents of Anambra State which commenced on Monday to end Tuesday.
Apart from the normal Monday sit-at-home and on Tuesday, it was gathered that sequel to the directive from Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), business activities were always grounded in solidarity any day Nnamdi Kanu’s case comes come up in court .
Consequently, Monday and Tuesday this week are public holidays in the entire Southeast zone even as mixed reactions have greeted the two -day public holiday.
Recall that the Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr. Echeng E. Echeng, in a press briefing recently said that, “there is nothing like sit-at-home and unknown gunmen in Anambra”
He asked people to go about their legitimate business and report strange persons to the police.
But in a reaction to the two-day sit-at-home, a resident of Onitsha who identified himself as Mr Onyema Achiha, said that the political class is only interested in what is beneficial to them.
Contributing, Mrs Nneka Nkechikwue, a civil servant based in Bayelsa state said, “I came on Saturday to make purchases for Tuesday but nobody told me that the Tuesday is another holiday and so I have to stay put until Wednesday.
“I only know of Monday, I don’t know that any day Nnamdi Kanu appears in court is added a public holiday in Biafran land”.
Some youths seen playing football at the Nkwo triangle axis Nnewi, told this reporter that, “we enjoy the two-day public holiday because our business is not progressing again.
So we play ball, drink and make merry on days like this. Until the economy is revived, Government should leave us alone”
At Nkpor Junction near Onitsha, a carpenter who pleaded anonymity said that, “things are getting worse these days. The only people enjoying this sit-at-home are the civil servants because they must receive their salary come rain, come sunshine”
Chief Madueme Okeke from Okpoko, Onitsha suburb, expressed satisfaction that people are learning their lessons now, adding that, “any Monday sit-at-home “I join some people in their streets to make merry.”
“We drink, eat and exchange ideas and discuss politics but on work days I don’t have time for such, I enjoy free days or holidays”.
Meanwhile, beer parlours, play grounds, streets and major roads that are normally busy on previous Mondays’ sit-at-home, were deserted.
Busy joints such as Nkpor Junction, Ezeiweka/Onitsha/Owerri road, Ojedi/Oguta road, Nkwo triangle Nnewi, Nnobi junction, Aroma junction Awka, state capital, among others were completely deserted.
As usual, banks, schools, offices, courts, supper markets, petrol stations, markets and eateries remain shut.
The Onitsha/Enugu expressway, Onitsha/Asaba/Benin/Lagos expressway, Onitsha/Owerri road and the Onitsha/Otuocha/Nsukka road, were also deserted.
