…Nnamdi Kanu, brother meet at DSS HQ
…IPOB leader in high spirit
…Sit-at-home: Commercial activities grounded in S’East despite cancellation
By Vincent Ujumadu, Chidi Nkwopara, Peter Okutu, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Okonkwo Nwabueze, Ikechukwu Odu, Steve Okoh & Emma Iheaka
Most streets in Umuahia, Aba, Awka, Nnewi,Onitsha, Abakaliki, Nsukka,Owerri and Orlu were ghost towns yesterday as residents continued to yield to the IPOB sit-at-home order even after it was suspended.
This was happening as the detained IPOB leader was meeting with his younger brother Prince Emmanuel Kanu at DSS headquaters in Abuja.
Recall that the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, suspended the protest it ordered in the region, saying the civil action would now hold on days its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would appear in court.
The group explained that should there be any need to reverse the decision, the group wouldn’t hesitate and stated that the next sit-at-home would now take place on October 21, 2021, when Kanu is scheduled to appear in court.
Kanu is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him in response to years of the campaign for the independent Republic of Biafra.
His trial was adjourned till October 21, 2021, after the July 26 hearing failed to hold.
In solidarity with its detained leader, IPoB ordered a weekly sit-at-home exercise across the South-East states.
Long before the sit-at-home, some notable Igbo leaders and groups had kicked against it, saying the South-East economy would be gravely affected.
Kanu’s family had also differed with IPoB on the matter.
IPoB called off the order at the behest of Kanu.
But despite the cancellation, commercial activities were still grounded in southeast states yesterday.
Total shut down in Awka
In Awka, Anambra State, banks, markets, as well as shops did not open, even when there was nobody ordering people to remain at home.
Although there was no molestation of any sort on motorists who chose to travel to any part of the country through the zone, many people remained indoors and traffic was light.
At the state secretariat complex in Awka, only a few workers were seen on their duty posts and unlike last week when security operatives were patrolling the major streets, no security personnel was seen on the roads yesterday. Normal checkpoints were, however, operational at their usual locations.
At the two campuses of the state-owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University at Uli and Igbariam, the second-semester examinations scheduled for yesterday could not hold because the campuses were virtually deserted. Similarly, Nnamdi Azikiwe University was devoid of the usual heavy movement of people, although some offices were open for business.
Onitsha, Nnewi, other Anambra communities locked down
Onitsha, the commercial city and Nnewi, the industrial town of Anambra State were yesterday locked down.
Motor parks, shops, and other business and commercial activities located in the areas were under lock and key.
The two Army check-points along Onitsha Owerri road, precisely at Mgbidi and Ihiala, where motorists from Onitsha to Owerri and Owerri to Onitsha spend hours with passengers were deserted as no vehicles were seen on the dual carriage road.
Upper Iweka Onitsha, known for its bustling business and transport activities with all manner of touts operating was a ghost of itself as people deserted the roads.
Popular markets in Onitsha, Nnewi and their suburbs, including Onitsha Main Market, Ochanja Central Market, New and Old Motor Spare Part Markets Nkpor, Building Materials International Market Ogidi and New Tyre Market Nkpor, Nkwo Nnewi Market, Timber Market Nnewi, Agbardo Market Nnewi were shut against the day’s business.
Banks, stores, shops, and other business and commercial places in Onitsha and Nnewi also closed shops as people deserted the roads where they are located.
Residents of the two cities of Onitsha and Nnewi were indoors.
Streets and roads within Onitsha metropolis and the attendant business and human activities were deserted with nobody seen round. Even youths who usually turned the roads into playing fields were not seen anywhere let alone playing football.
Security agents including Police and Army were not seen anywhere at the checkpoints and junctions in Onitsha. However, Vanguard sighted Naval ratings along Onitsha-Owerri road attempting to drive off probably because of the emptiness of the road.
IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, who was notified about the surprising desertion of the roads and how people decided to observe the sit-at-home, had nothing to say other than, “let them go ahead.”
Imo shut down again
Economic activities were largely shut yesterday in Imo State.
Vanguard noticed that no single commercial bank or market in the state opened for business yesterday while all commercial vehicle operators distanced themselves from intra and inter-state travel.
When Vanguard visited Rotobi Street, which houses all the national newspapers, the sales representatives bemoaned their inability to send papers to the outstations.
Their Chairman, Mr. Alex Udofia said: “Imo has shut down again today (yesterday). No single commercial vehicle was seen anywhere to move our papers to the outstations. It is another bad business day for newspaper houses in the country.”
Similarly, so many petrol stations and shops did not open for business in Owerri.
Shops, roads deserted in Owerri
Owerri, the capital city of Imo State was a ghost of itself yesterday. While most shops and offices were locked, vehicular movement was at the lowest ebb.
As at 11 AM when Vanguard visited the ever-busy Wetheral, Douglas, Orlu, and Okigwe roads, most shops were locked and few vehicles were seen plying the roads.
All the banks visited were locked, except Union Bank on Okigwe Road which was seen attending to customers.
A guard in one of the banks who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the staffs were instructed not to come to work for fear of the bank being attacked by gunmen.
