… cso’s demonstrate solidarity.
From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
The defaulters of the ban on the illegal sit-at-home last Monday in Enugu state,whose business premises were sealed on the order of the state government will pass through tough times re open their business outfits.
A press statement which emanated from the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, on Tuesday, July 25, said those shops will remained sealed for one week.
Further to the one week penalty, the owners of such premises must visit the state agency Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority(ECTDA) to show prove that they are upto date in the payment of tax and other revenues to enable the state government to clarify if they can be considered for re opening.
Enugu state government in the press statement directed that ECTDA will start attending to the defaulters as from two o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, July 28.
The AUTHORITY Newspaper checks revealed that the state government’s step in this direction is coming after series of consultations and explanations with various stakeholders, interest groups, leaders of market associations, civil society organisations(CSO), the traditional rulers, President Generals of various town unions in the state, the various security agencies, etc on the pertinent need to nip the sit at home scourge on the board and refocus the economic pedestal of the state for even development.
In as much as the various stakeholders and most other Nigerians resident in the state concurred to Governor Mbah led administration to rescue the state from the menace, it became clear that miscreants under the aegis of IPOB sponsored by some disgruntled elements within and outside the South East zone and outside the country to brain wash the common people with sentiments and on several instances intimimdated innocent citizens on their genuine business on Mondays by setting their vehicles ablaze etc.
Ironically, Enugu state remained under cage for more than twenty months with crumbling and dwindling socio economic activities every Monday as markets, financial institutions, Schools, Commercial transport and the Civil servants remain indoors for their safety.
Governor Mbah has been making concerted efforts to revise the ugly trend as one of the major policy thrust of his administration. In as much as gadual success is beiing recorded, the men behind the ugly menace is not giving up.
The Finland based Mr Simon Ekpa in his broadcast captured on social media on Saturday,July 22.vowed to make Enugu state ,the head quarter of ci vil disobedience,instigating the residents to ignore the state governments directive to resume normal economic activities on mondays.
Aganst Ekpa’s broadcast, a coalition of civil society organisations(CSO) in Enugu state on Monday staged a peaceful demonstration in support of the ban in Monday sit at home by Governor Mbah led administration, advising residents to go about their normal duties.
In total support to Governor Mbah’s battle against the illegal sit at home in Enugu state every Monday. the security agencies has been encouraging the residents to go about their normal duties on mondays,assuring maximum support to their safety and properties.
A great success was recorded in this direction a fortihnght ago,as four miscreants who attempted to snatch a branded ENTRACO commercial bus to use in enforcing sit at home,were overwhelmed in a gun duel with the police at Gariki Awkunanaw axis of Enugu. The police later discovered some of their dead corpses in a bush within the area.
Analysts hold the view that now the state government has started to implement it’s warning to seal business premises who failed to open shops, more of the owners will start opening for business while the brain washed supporters of Simon Ekpa and the miscreants will be on the decline.
