Tension As IPOB Dares Soludo Over Monday’s Sit-At-Home Order

The Monday sit-at-home, which has abated in Anambra State, has resumed despite the directive of Governor Charles Soludo that workers should report to work.

His order created tension in Anambra as banks, schools, traders returned to the trenches from Awka to Nnewi, to Onitsha and Ekwulobia areas.

The residents blamed the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor for the renewed sit-at-home after the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) threatened to deal with anybody that flouts their order again.

Soludo had directed all schools in the State and workers to return, adding it would be the turn of markets next week.

He gave the directive during a meeting with leaders of 91 Markets and Transport Unions on Friday in Awka.

He said that preliminary survey conducted showed that more than N19.6 billion was lost every Monday due to closure of businesses in the State.

The Governor said the directive became necessary due to the obvious negative impact the sit-at-home across the South East region was having.

He said that he was not against people sympathetic to the cause of the leader of IPOB being held in detention.

“People should devout time to pray for him while we leaders continue to follow up the matter because I believe that through dialogue the matter will be resolved,” Soludo said.

But Chairman, Bridge Head Markets, Sunny Obinze, appealed to the Governor to allow them meet their subjects before enforcement of the order.

Some members of IPOB warned that anybody who dares them would have him or herself to blame.

IPOB National Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful had distanced the group from the Monday sit-at-home, adding it was not part of it.

However, all the schools and banks opened before now, were shut on Monday following the order from the circular which was not signed.

The workers stayed away from their different offices on Monday for fear of being attacked while shops were all under lock and key

The roads were empty as commercial vehicles stayed away.

Some residents, who spoke with The Nation, blamed Soludo for the development, stating his order was not necessary since the sit-at-home was already fading away.

Anambra Police spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, said people should stop causing unnecessary tension when there was none.

“Anambra is safe, nothing is happening here. It’s only fear the people have created for themselves and it should not be so. We’ve not seen anything wrong with what the Governor said,” Tochukwu said.