For the first time in several months, full academic and business activities resumed in Enugu State, yesterday, as the government intensified efforts to eradicate the sit-at-home order imposed by Biafra agitators.
This was as Governor Peter Mbah, who monitored compliance with the forced restriction, yesterday, warned traders at Ogbete Main Market, Garki, Kenyetta and other places that locking shops on Mondays would no longer be condoned.
Mbah said: “We are going to revoke your license to operate. We will revoke your shop titles and reallocate them to someone else who is ready to do business. This is something we must enforce with effect from Monday, next week.
“There are also consequences for not heeding our orders. Going forward, I want to put you on notice. I will go round the state again on Monday. We are going to come with the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority to put a seal on any shop that is found locked on Monday, because of an illegal sit-at-home order. We would take it that you are not ready to do business.”
The Guardian observed improved vehicular and human movement, as well as enhanced security patrol in Enugu, yesterday. Major markets, such as Ogbete, Kenyetta and others have continued to be deserted. Although the entrance to the markets was wide open with security operatives at strategic locations, many shops were under lock and key. However, other smaller markets like Major, Abakp and Artisan markets were a beehive of activities as they operated fully.
The state secretariat was also full of activities, as civil servants reported to work. A source noted that compliance by workers with the governor’s directive was complemented with provision of buses for workers.
Besides public schools, many private institutions were opened, indicating they were complying with the governor’s directive. School authorities expressed confidence that the counter measure had come to stay, given the level of security arrangements on ground.
Mbah assured residents that adequate security had been provided, observing that there had not been any incident of attacks since the ban on the sit-at-home in June.
The governor, who took time to interact with business owners, shoppers, traders and civil servants at the state secretariat, said: “It should never be heard that we were cowed, because of the threat of violence by these criminals. The poverty that will befall us for sitting at home will kill us even faster.
“We lose over N10 billion every Monday. Enough is enough. This foolishness must end, and it must end now. We cannot marginalise ourselves and still complain of marginalisation.”
“So, we must say no to sit-at-home, because what it means is that we are destroying our employment, our economy, and our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). We must erase it from our memories. We should see it as our shameful past, which we do not want to remember. We must put it behind us and forge ahead, ensuring that we work every working day of the week.”
