Tension grips Anambra as Soludo’s order against sit-at-home takes effect
Anambra State is currently wrapped in tension following the commencement of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s order banning the observation of the controversial sit-at-home protest from October 14, 2024.
During his recent visit to Onitsha, the state’s commercial hub, Soludo threatened to seal off any shop or plaza closed on Monday in adherence to the sit-at-home order.
The Governor stressed that the continued boycott of work on Mondays across states in the southeast has huge economic implications, noting that the region loses an estimated N19.6 billion every week.
However, on Sunday, traders in Anambra said they would only comply with the Governor’s instruction provided there are adequate security measures in place to ensure their safety.
Soludo determined to end sit-at-home in Anambra
Recall that the sit-at-home measure was introduced in August 2021 by the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to pressure the Federal Government to release its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The controversial order, observed every Monday across states in the region, usually sees business places, including shops, plazas and markets, as well as schools and banks closed for the entire day with armed groups enforcing compliance.
However, IPOB later suspended the weekly implementation and adopted a sit-at-home only on days Kanu would appear in court.
But despite the suspension, residents of the five Southeast states of Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra have been forced to observe the Monday sit-at-home order out of fear posed by armed groups.
Although the secessionist group had reiterated the discontinuation of the Monday sit-at-home across the region severally, disowning the enforcers as criminals attempting to blackmail the Biafra agitators, a faction of IPOB led by Simon Ekpa who is based in Finland has continued to declare sit-at-home in the region, with threats to kill and maim the violators.
Efforts by state governors in the zone to also reign in the sit-at-home enforcers have been met with some resistance, although skeletal services had recently begun in some cities.
During his visit to Onitsha main market, Soludo assessed the level of commercial activity in the face of the disturbing sit-at-home order and expressed worry at the near-total closure of the market and the continued lockdown of the city on Mondays.
“From now on, every Monday, the main market must be open for business. If you fail to open, your shop will be sealed for one week, and if necessary, for up to one month.
”When you are ready to open, it must be from Monday through Saturday,” the baffled Governor said, assuring the traders that adequate security measures would be provided to facilitate their protection.
Traders, drivers support Soludo’s move to end sit-at-home
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, and the executive members of the Urban Drivers Welfare Association of Anambra State, UDWAAS, have declared their support for Soludo’s drive to end the controversial sit-at-home order in the state.
President General of ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna, and the executive members of UDWAAS, after a meeting in Onitsha pledged that drivers and traders who form a critical stakeholder, would end the exercise as directed by the governor.
“The adverse effect of the sit-at-home on the people of Anambra and the entire South-East, especially as it concerns trading activities and logistics, had become worrisome. And as drivers, we have realised we are critical stakeholders in ending the exercise.
“Therefore, we have advised that drivers and traders should resume their normal business activities, and we assure residents of the availability of transportation to convey them to their business places every Monday. We know that when commercial vehicles are available, people will start coming out,” the leader of the drivers said.
