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BY SUNNY A. DAVID
Despite the order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), suspending the ‘every Monday’ sit-at-home protest declared in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu, residents of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi are still unsure if to venture out.
Upper Iweka Onitsha, known for its bustling business and transport activities with all manner of touts operating and residents who live within Awada and Okpoko trooping out to transact business in near by markets like Relief Market, Bridge Head Markets, Onitsha Medicine Market, popularly known as Ogbo Ogwu, and Electronics International Markets, 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 Material International Market Ogidi and New Tyre Market Nkpor, Nkwo Nnewi Market, Timber Market Nnewi, Agbardo Market Nnewi, all surprisingly shut for the days business.
Banks and other store and shop and other business and commercial activities in Onitsha and Nnewi also closed shops as people deserted the roads where they are located.
Calls made to persons in Onitsha showed that streets are still deserted as at 8am on Monday morning.
A source, Mr. Theophilus Omaka, a trader in Onitsha Main Market told our correspondent that as at 8am, there were only few traders who had come to the market.
“The market opens at 7am every morning, and usually, on a Monday, after a long weekend, traders itch to come to their shops, and that means that as early as 6am, most traders are already waiting for market officials to open their shops, so they can go to work.
“But today, it is already 8am, and the markets are already open, but only a few traders have arrived. As I was coming to market from Fegge where I live, I found the whole street scanty, unlike what used to happen on Monday mornings when there is usually a rush.”
In Awka, our correspondent moved around to also find shops still closed as at 8am.
Some residents who spoke said the news of the suspension was not widely circulated.
A trader at Aroma, popularly known as Oga Boss, who traders in Phone parts said: “I didn’t plan to go out today because of the sit-at-home. I’m just hearing it from you that it has just been suspended.”
IPOB, speaking through its publicity secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful had two days ago called off the sit-at-home order, saying that the exercise will henceforth hold only on days its leader, Kanu would appear in court.
