Enugu Residents Take to the Streets in Protest Against Illegal Monday Sit-at-Home, Voicing "Enough is Enough"

Enugu State residents demonstrated their dissatisfaction with the Monday sit-at-home order enforced by self-styled separatist, Simon Ekpa, as they took to the streets in a massive march on Monday. The residents, led by a Coalition of Civil Society groups, protested against the continued adherence to the sit-at-home directive, calling for a return to normalcy and the resumption of Monday business activities.

Governor Dr. Peter Mbah had previously taken a stand against the Monday sit-at-home, imposing a ban on the practice since June 5. He urged residents to carry on with their legitimate duties on Mondays and took measures to improve security in the state.

During a recent monitoring exercise to assess compliance with his directive in major markets and government offices, Governor Mbah expressed his disappointment that a significant number of residents still remained at home. He also threatened sanctions against businesses and institutions that refused to open on Mondays.

However, on the recent Monday, a large gathering of residents assembled under the banner of the Coalition of Civil Society groups. The protesters, led by Coordinators Onyinye Mammah, Ebuka Okoh, Amaka Nweke, Bismark Oji, Charles Ogbu, and Eberechukwu Anigbo, marched throughout the state to encourage people to disregard the sit-at-home order and return to their regular Monday activities.

Holding up banners and placards with powerful messages such as "Enough is Enough," "Say no to Sit-at-Home in Enugu," and "Allow the poor to breathe," the protesters voiced their determination to break free from the shackles of those attempting to stifle the progress of Enugu State. They echoed the slogan "Our mumu don do," a popular phrase calling for an end to perceived oppression.

With chants of "No more sit-at-home in Enugu," the demonstrators covered significant areas, including the Michael Okpara Square, Presidential Road, Ogui Road, Ogbete Main Market, Okpara Avenue, Garden Avenue, New Haven, Bisala Road, and returned to the Okpara Square.

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Enugu State chapter, Rev. Emmanuel Ede, described the protest march as “heart warning”, saying it was an indication that Enugu people were no longer comfortable with the forced sit at home every Monday in the state.

“There is no better way to show support for what the Enugu State governor is doing to end the Monday sit at home than this march. It is a way to boost morale and confidence of the people in the fact that they should go about their businesses. The truth is that the Enugu state government has done much in ensuring safety and wellbeing of the people by the provision of security, yet a good number of residents still stay indoor on Monday for fear. So this is telling them that we are solidly behind the government on this and that security has been well improved”, Ede stated.

Mrs Onyinye Mammah, the Executive Director, Heroine Women Foundation, explained that they decided to take the bold initiative, following the devastating effect the continued Monday sit at home has had on the economy of the state and the southeast region as a whole.

“How can you continue to do something that has not benefited you since it was started? We pay school fees and our children don’t go to school; businesses are shut on Mondays, not because traders and organisations want to shut their businesses. A few people have decided to create anarchy, take laws into their hands and make life uncomfortable for others. We cannot continue this way and that is why we think there is need to support Governor Mbah in his effort to end Monday sit at home”, she said.

Amb. Amaka Nweke spoke on behalf her group, Anambra Women General Assembly (AWGA). She urged Enugu citizens to commence their daily activities and not allow strangers to decide their economic destiny. She reiterated her group's support for Gov. Peter Mbah’s administration's agenda for a new Enugu State.

Mrs. Eberechukwu Anigbo, said that the latest statistics, which showed that the South East had suffers N7.6 trillion loses in productivity and investments as a result of sit at home, should spur residents to action to discontinue the exercise and support the move to end it by the state government.

Charles Ogbu, on his part, accused the Finland-based Simon Ekpa of executing the agenda of Igbo enemies.

“We are here to say an emphatic no to those who are instigating violence in the South East; those who are hiding abroad and acting on a template given to them by Igbo enemies to destabilize the South East”, he emphaised.

Meanwhile, in response to the improved security measures and Governor Mbah's recent actions to seal businesses that remained closed on Mondays, traders in the state decided to resume their activities. The presence of officials from the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) ensured that businesses adhered to the government's order, leading to the sealing of some non-compliant establishments.

Notably, the Spar and Polo Malls were among the businesses sealed for their refusal to open in compliance with the government's directive. However, the Ogbete Main Market, New Market, Kenyetta, Artisan markets, and several banks that had previously remained closed on Mondays were open for business as early as 8 am.