When Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, on June 5, 2023 pronounced ban of illegal sit-at-home that has crippled and still destroying the struggling and fragile economy of Enugu State, I knew and had expected that there would be pockets of challenges, resistance and sabotage. But one clear thing is that it takes a proactive and assertive leader of Mbah's mould to toe this path that was avoided like a plague by ex-governors of the Southeast region
Since the ban, Governor Mbah has done and continues to do what is required of his government to sustain the ban and free Enugu State from the menace in the overall interest of the state and its people. These include engaging, persuading, dialoguing, soliciting the support and cooperation of the people, residents, youths and stakeholders in the state, rejiging and re-equipping of the security architecture of the state for optimal performance, engaging and pressuring the Presidency to secure the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, providing means of transportation for the civil servants to go to work on Mondays, constant visitation of markets, streets and offices to monitor compliance, embarking on aggressive and comprehensive media campaigns and sensitisation about the need to abide by the ban on sit at home and others.
Fortunately, there has been a high level of compliance, cooperation, and enthusiasm among the people who have been tired and antagonistic of the sit-at-home order before now. Recently, Enugu youths and residents marched in their thousands across the streets, chanting songs in total protest against the illegal sit-at-home.
It is no longer in doubt that while all these concerted and collaborative efforts are being made by Mbah's government, security agents and good people of Enugu State that are determined and prepared to rescue their state from the clutches of the non-state actors, hiding under illegal sit-at-home to destroy it, there are people within and outside the state, that have remained unapologetic, sympathetic and supportive of these non-state actors and have been using their social media handles, influences and political platforms to promote them.
This is despite the fact that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whom the non-state actors claimed to be enforcing the sit-at-home to secure his unconditional release has through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) condemned the order and those enforcing it, warning them to desist from it because they are destroying the Southeast region and its economy. If this is the case, is it not obvious that those who are insisting on Monday sit-at-home and their supporters are known enemies and saboteurs of the state and people with hidden agenda and sinister motive that security agents must beam their searchlight on henceforth?
It would be recalled that since the ban of the illegal sit-at-home, the Enugu State Government has consistently assured the people of their safety, warned, and reminded them to abide by the ban of sit-at-home. Almost on a daily basis, press statements are issued and repeated radio announcements made in this regard to create awareness and raise people's consciousness about the ban and the urgent need to comply with it to avoid being penalized.
It is also of note that since the June 5, 2023 ban of sit-at-home by Governor Mbah, there has been no attack of any sort across the state. This is unlike in the past when enforcers of the sit-at-home usually gained entrance or access into some parts of the state on Mondays and operated unhindered and disappeared. What this simply shows is that there are some extraordinary security measures that have been put in place by the government and security agencies to gain people's confidence, which the people should reciprocate, embrace and support to end Monday sit-at-home in Enugu State.
It is not shocking or strange that since the Enugu State Government sealed some shops in the state for non-compliance with government's ban on Monday sit-at-home after repeated appeals, press statements and warnings by government, tongues have been wagging and social media have been buzzing. Most people who have not offered any solution to the menace since August 2021 have suddenly woken up from slumber and found their voices. The opposition that have been licking their wounds over electoral defeats have resorted to issuing press statements and exploring the situation. Some people have argued that the government has no right to do so, and others are of the view that the government's approach is anti-people and confrontational.
This is democracy and talk is always free and cheap. They are right in their own judgments and thoughts. One thing they have forgotten is that government is government and government can not be cowed by non-state actors at any point. If government fails to act from the point of strength and allow the non-state actors and their sympathisers to dictate, government and people will be messed up and the system will collapse and the blame will be placed at Governor Mbah's doorstep.
What the Enugu State government has used and is still using in sustaining the ban on sit-at-home is a carrot-and-stick approach, which is the best in this situation. Former Governor David Umahi used in Abakaliki, it worked. Governor Chukwuma Soludo used in Awka, Anambra State, it is working. Enough of this hypocrisy and politicisation of the menace. In a community in Anambra State, the people didn't wait for security agents or government to apprehend and burn men who came to enforce sit-at-home there. The verified picture and video of the incident are in the public domain.
Anyone proposing or encouraging the carrot approach alone is not sincere and altruistic as such has failed before now. If Enugu State has no power or right to close shops of those who go against the ban on Monday sit-at-home, why did the shop owners pay government revenues and get government approvals to build shops and commenced business activities?
Why? Please, I need further explanations or clarifications. I know some of these shops were built and allocated to the people by governments. Now that Enugu State Government has insisted that the condition for the reopening of the sealed shops is for the owners to show evidence of their tax payments and other revenues to governments, how many of the affected shop owners are up to date in payment of taxes and others? Many don't even pay the government anything at all, but will be first to flout the government's order or law, rush to streets and social media platforms to protest, blackmail, castigate, and criticise governments.
In most cases just like the protest in Ogbete Main Market Enugu over sealed shops where one live was allegedly lost, following its hijack by hoodlums, these gullible protesters were allegedly prodded or sponsored by the oppositions, narcissists, cynics, hypocrites and apologists of the non-state actors that have never seen anything good in Mbah's government in the state. Many of them are not from Enugu State. They are not living in Enugu and have never been to the state, but are always on social media platforms writing negative things about the state after being contracted and compromised by the opposition. Some are from Enugu and living in Enugu, but have allowed their political affiliations, emotions, and sentiments to becloud their sense of reasoning and judgment. That is why they have continued to instigate and incite people against Mbah's government, unduly and unfairly criticise, politicise and trivialise Governor Mbah government's determined and unrelenting efforts in ending the anathema called Monday sit-at-home in Enugu State.
Theirs is a case of bird of the same feathers that flock together and show me your friend, I will tell who you are. Perusing through their patterns of writings and arguments on social media platforms and listening to their public discussions, one needs no soothsayer to know where they stand and why. Even though they always pretend to be neutral, altruistic, and patriotic, they are not. They are the ones supporting and encouraging the non-state actors to be destabilising and destroying the economy of Enugu with illegal sit-at-home.
Not bothered by their sabotage, politics, emotions and sentiments, Mbah's government appeared determined and unstoppable in her quest to put a permanent end to sit-at-home in Enugu for the betterment of the people, state and its economy.
