Youths from the five South East states on Monday took to the streets of Enugu in support of efforts to end sit-at-home, saying the region’s economy was being crippled.
Also, the Enugu state capital witnessed impressive compliance with the state’s ban on sit-at-home and Nnamdi Kanu’s order to end the action with popular shopping malls and markets as well as banks opening to customers, as residents said two-week sit-at-home would not work.
Speaking to newsmen, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths Worldwide, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, said the youth were “demonstrating the desire, resolve and endorsement of an end to sit-at-home in the South East”.
“We are Igbo youths and stakeholders that gathered from the five states of the South East to declare and endorse the end to sit-at-home. We acknowledge the fact that sit-at-home commenced because of our brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s detention. It gained so much support in solidarity with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in the beginning.
“But as it is now, it is affecting us. Our economy is shrinking and its adverse effects are just too much. Miscreants and criminals are causing so much mayhem in our society in the name of sit-at-home and we say no to all forms of criminalities in the South East. Thus, we are convinced that it is now time to end it, just as Kanu himself has said”, he added.
The South East Coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Comrade Chidi Nzekwe: ‘The institutions in the South East don’t operate on Mondays. Now we are talking about another 14 days of sitting at home. We want to encourage our youths and students to come out. Let us stand together to end this sit-at-home”.
On his part, the Youth Leader, Ohanaaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Enugu State chapter, Mazi Nnamdi Odo, stressed that the difference between the Monday march and others before it was the coming together of youth representatives and stakeholders from the five South East states to speak with one voice against sit-at-home.
Meanwhile, Enugu town on Monday witnessed significant compliance with the state government’s ban on sit-at-home.
At SPAR shopping mall, the main mall and other shops were open with an appreciable number of residents doing their shopping. (Blueprint)
