Tension as IPOB dares Soludo over Monday’s sit-at-home order

Despite Governor Charles Soludo’s instruction that employees go to work on Mondays, the sit-at-home movement has resumed in Anambra State.

Banks, schools, and businessmen returned to the trenches from Awka to Nnewi, Onitsha, and Ekwulobia, causing tension in Anambra.

After the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) vowed to deal with anybody who disobeyed their order again, locals blamed the previous Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the fresh sit-at-home.

Soludo had ordered all schools and employees in the state to return, noting that markets will be the focus next week.
On Friday in Awka, he delivered the command at a meeting with leaders of 91 Markets and Transport Unions.

He said that a preliminary study revealed that the State lost over N19.6 billion every Monday owing to business closures.

The Governor said that the instruction was essential owing to the clear detrimental effect that the sit-at-home movement was having throughout the Southeast.
He said that he had no objections to anyone sympathizing with the incarceration of IPOB’s leader.

“People should devote time to pray for him as we leaders continue to follow up on the subject,” Soludo added. “I think the problem will be handled via discussion.”

Sunny Obinze, Chairman of Bridge Head Markets, requested that the Governor allow them to speak with their subjects before enforcing the order.

IPOB members have threatened that anybody who tries to challenge them would be held responsible.

IPOB’s National Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, has said that the organisation is not a part of the Monday sit-in.

However, all schools and banks that had been open before were closed on Monday as a result of an order from a circular that had not been signed.

On Monday, employees remained away from their various workplaces for fear of being assaulted, and stores were all locked up.

Commercial vehicles remained away, leaving the roadways vacant.

Some neighbors blamed Soludo for the incident, claiming that his directive was unnecessary since the sit-at-home protests were already dissipating.

People should quit provoking needless tension, according to Anambra Police spokesperson Ikenga Tochukwu.

“Anambra is secure; there is nothing going on here.” It’s just fear that individuals have instilled in themselves, and it shouldn’t be that way. Tochukwu said, “We haven’t noticed anything wrong with what the Governor said.”