Enugu State residents, CSOs, protest against “Sit-At-Home“ order
Residents of Enugu State and civil society organisations (CSOs) staged a protest on Monday against the weekly “Sit-At-Home“ order by the Simon Ekpa faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The protesters, whoconverged at the popular Michael Okpara Square as early as 8 a.m., moved through the Presidential Road, Ogui Road, Ogbete Main Market, Okpara Avenue, Garden Avenue, New Haven, Bisala Road, and back to Okpara Square.
Theycarried banners and placards with inscriptions such as ”Enough Is Enough”, “Say No To Sit-At-Home In Enugu”, “Allow The Poor To Breathe, Our Mumu Don Do” and “Enugu People Must Be Freed From The Shackles Of Those Who Want To Hold Them Down”, among others.
Mrs. Onyinye Mammah, the Executive Director of the Heroine Women Foundation, who spoke on behalf of the coordinators, said they decided to take the bold initiative following the devastating effects the every Monday “Sit-At-Home“ order was having on the state’s economy and that of the entire South-East.
She said the protesters were made up of residents, CSOs, the media, members of women's organisations, and representatives of the 17 council areas in the state.
“How can you continue to do something that has not benefited you since it was started? We pay school fees, our children don’t go to school, and businesses are closed on Mondays.
“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 Gov. Peter Mbah in his effort to end Monday's sit-At-Home order”, she said.
A protester, Mr. Arthur Edeh, described the Sit-At-Home order as a cancer to the Enugu people, its economy, and its development, pointing out that anybody telling Enugu residents to Sit-At-Home was an enemy to the state.
According to him, whoever lives abroad and is telling people in the Southeast to “sit at home“ on Mondays does not have their interests at heart.
“People should feel free to go about their businesses... The security network in Enugu is massive, and nobody should threaten you with an illegal “Sit-At-Home order,“ he advised.
A representative of Nsukka Council Area, Mr. Emeka Nwangwu, said they participated in the protest because they were tired of the “Sit-At-Home“ order.
“I came from Nsukka to support our governor in ending this menace, and I am here also to inform our people that Nsukka is free from Monday's “Sit-At-Home“ directive.
“Opi, Nsukka, and Ugwuogo Nike Road are free for movement, and people are free to travel anytime without threat or attack.
“I advise our people to come out en masse to support our governor, as we are losing a lot from sitting at home,“ he said.
