The Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, has vowed to stop the Monday sit-at-home in his constituency with immediate effect.
Ubah said the adverse effects the exercise has so far inflicted on the commercial, economic, and well-being of the South-East residents have become so devastating that the exercise has to be tackled with every strength it deserves.
He urged the people of his constituency to start opening for business on Mondays, starting today, saying that adequate security measures and equipment have been put in place to ensure water-tight security of lives and properties.
The senator stated these at the Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadium, Nnewi, Anambra State, on Sunday, when he addressed the state vigilante and community security watch operatives from the four quarters of Nnewi, comprising Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewi-Ichi.
He used the avenue to unveil a number of security gadgets and equipment he procured for security operations in the Nnewi constituency and environs while tasking the vigilante operatives to ensure water-tight security for the people.
He said, “The abrogation of the self-inflicted injury called Monday sit-at-home would start from this Monday, July 3. We are going to march on a road show across various markets and roads tomorrow (Monday) to demonstrate to the people that they are safe and should start coming out for business on Mondays.
“The vigilante operatives have been charged to beef up security around all the major markets in Nnewi and ensure that traders and their goods are given adequate protection from the so-called unknown gunmen this Monday and subsequent Mondays to stamp out the cankerworm called sit-at-home.
“Monday is a serious day for business and economic activities, but the sit-at-home has spoiled businesses, commerce, and economy in the region. It has thrown our youth out of jobs and this cannot continue. The Nnewi community used to be known as an industrial area, but the sit-at-home has dealt with the once-industrial hub of Africa. This cannot continue.
“I have procured a number of security gadgets and equipment such as CCTV cameras, patrol vans, motorcycles, walkie-talkies, wooden ‘osisi agaga’ from Nnewi evil forests and I am handing these equipment over to the vigilante operatives to help them in tackling any resultant security breach that may arise as we resolve to end this cankerworm called ‘sit-at-home’.”
The Indigenous People of Biafra initiated the Monday sit-at-home in 2021 to protest the rendition and detention of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Although the exercise had been suspended, the people have continued to observe it for fear of attack by hoodlums.
Speaking on Kanu’s continuous detention, Ubah said, “I am sure he will come out from detention sooner or later. We in the 10th national assembly are going to give Kanu’s case a new legislative option to facilitate his freedom and I have even personally initiated a move towards that direction.
“It is one Simon Ekpa in Finland who is promoting the sit-at-home and using it to inflict injuries and fear on our people. We cannot allow him to continue to destroy our economic base while he stays in Finland without feeling the pain.
“Ekpa has continued to mention my name during his broadcast in Finland and he has mentioned my name 17 times. He is from Ebonyi State, he should come home and feel the pain we are feeling. He has nationalised in Finland, where he is currently contesting for a councillorship seat, and he has the effrontery to dictate to us how to sit at home on Mondays here in Igbo land.
“We will forgive Ekpa for the injuries he has inflicted on us so far, but if he continues, we will deal with him furiously. He should leave Anambra State alone. We are warning him to steer clear of Nnewi with his sit-at-home order forthwith.”
The senator lamented that for the past two years, Ekpa had been enforcing his sit-at-home order in the South-East, despite the huge misfortune and hardship that came with it.
“Enough is enough and we have resolved in agreement with our constituents that there will be no more observation of sit-at-home orders in Nnewi from Monday, July 3, 2023.
“We have cooperated to obey the sit-at-home order all this while, but we have also found out that we are losing our economic base, jobs, and business opportunities.
“As a representative of the good people of Anambra South senatorial district, Nnewi North is the political capital of Anambra South, I deem it fit to say we will not continue to have sit-at-home on Mondays.
“From this Monday, every business area in Nnewi shall be open for business. We have our men; we have our system. I know saboteurs will try to sabotage our efforts, but we’re resolved to fight any aggressor that will come into this town,” Ubah added.
The senator noted that he had made available between 6,000 and 10,000 street lights at several strategic places in Anambra South, adding that about 300 invisible security cameras, solar systems embedded with CCTV and tracking devices, in addition to wireless security cameras, have been provided for security surveillance across Nnewi to ward off insecurity.
Also speaking, the President-General, Nnewi Town Union, Dr. Maduako Atuenyi, warned that anybody who does not open for business starting Monday will have his or her business premises sealed for six months.
“By Monday, July 3, we will embark on a show of force, it is our economy that is suffering. Anybody that does not open his shop on Monday, the community will lock his or her shop for six months,” he added.