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‘Our mumu don do’ — Enugu residents protest IPOB’s sit-at-home order
Enugu state residents have protested against the sit-at-home order being enforced by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Peter Mbah, the governor of Enugu, had on June 4, banned the sit-at-home order in the state. But many residents were still afraid of coming out.
However, on Monday, some residents, under the auspices of the coalition of civil society groups, staged a peaceful protest to encourage people to return to their businesses.
The protesters marched in the state capital chanting and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Enough is Enough”, “Say no to Sit at Home in Enugu” and “Our mumu don do” among others.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Onyinye Mammah, the executive director, Heroine Women Foundation, said the march was necessitated by the negative impact that the continued weekly sit-at-home has had on the economy of the state and the southeast region.
“How can you continue to do something that has not benefited you since it was started?” she asked.
“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 a need to support governor Mbah in his effort to end Monday sit-at-home”.
Emmanuel Ede, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Enugu state chapter, said the protest was an indication that the Enugu people were no longer comfortable with the order of things.
“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,” Ede said.
“It is a way to boost the 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 the safety and well-being of the people through the provision of security. Yet a good number of residents still stay indoors 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.”
Meanwhile, officials of the Enugu state capital territory development authority (ECTDA) had moved around the state capital to seal off shops that disobeyed the sit-at-home ban.
News
Sanwo-Olu to receive democracy award in Tanzania
The Association of Political Consultants Africa (APCA) has nominated Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, for the 2023 Democracy Award.
In a statement on Thursday, the organisation said the award recognises political leaders who have made significant strides in democratic leadership, development, and governance.
Temitope Lakisokun, APCA chairperson in Nigeria, said Sanwo-Olu has “demonstrated exceptional leadership by building the capacity of state secretaries and improving governance structures within Lagos state”.
She added that his efforts have set a benchmark for effective governance and democratic practices in Nigeria.
The award will be presented at the 7th Africa political summit & diamond awards billed for December 11-14 at Lux Marijani, Zanzibar in Tanzania.
Past recipients of the award include President Bola Tinubu, President William Ruto of Kenya and Abiy Ahmed, prime minister of Ethiopia.
Political leaders, consultants, and stakeholders from across the continent and beyond are expected at the event.
News
Pride Cometh Before A Fall, “Do You Know Who I Am?”, By Emeka Monye
Last week, a video surfaced on various social media platforms, showing how a supposed member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Alex Ikwechegh, emotionally, psychologically and physically assaulted a bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, who had come to deliver a parcel of snail to him, from a client.
In the said video, “Honourable” Alex Ikwechegh, representing Abia North and South at the House of Representative, was seen harassing, threatening and intimidating the less privileged driver, who despite all the shootings and threats to his life, remained calm.
Irked by what he described as the driver’s rude behaviour towards him, the federal lawmaker boasted that he could make the bolt driver dispear without trace and nothing would happen; he even went ahead to ask the driver to call the Inspector General of Police.
What was the driver’s offence? Simply because the lawmaker perceived him to be rude, hence his outburst to a fellow citizen whose social and economic status is at disparity with his. That is the system that we operate and run with, a dysfunctional one for that matter, where every political office holder and “very important personalities”, and the elites see themselves above the law and the law will not hold them accountable for their misdemeanours.
This is not the Nigeria we all yearn for, where intimidation, impunity reign above all other considerations, including constitutionAl provision which guarantees the right to human dignity. The country we all aspire to live as one nation-state and entity is where equity, justice, supersede all other considerations.
The driver’s encounter with the honourable is not a new phenomenon in the Nigerian socio-economic and political space. It cut across all spares of our national life, including private and public sectors. The phrase, “Do you know who I am” is a national lingo crept into the DNAs of most, if not all, Nigerians.
From the usual traffic jams in major cities and towns across the nation, to the shopping mall, down to the streets and filling stations, the spate of attacks on the less privileged Nigerians by these so-called influential elites clearly postulates the arrogance of personality among us, even when it is not needed, a typical Nigerian would want to show off and make the ordinary man feel intimidated.
Honourable Ikwechegh’s case only got to national prominence because of two major factors – his person and office he is occupying and the very fact that the bolt driver recorded the whole unpleasant event and posted it on social media, leading it to go viral.
Alex Ikwechegh has gone down into history as one of those Nigerians who has etched their names as one of the Intimidators, harassers and abusers of human rights and dignity. Sadly, what makes his actions and behaviour quite despicable is that he is of the youthful generation, a generation that has been clamouring for youths empowerment and inclusion in public governance.
The “Do you know who I am” croner has been ducked before a magistrate court in Abuja, for assault, leaving him to lick his wound of pride in disgrace and shame. At least, the bolt driver has shown that calmness and reasoning far outweighs the emotional outburst displayed by Alex Ikwechegh.
There are lessons – he has parted with a large sum of 500,000 Naira as bail funds, two sureties in like sum and I am certain, he will be asked to compensate the victim, Stephen Abuwatseya in financial terms. That is a learning curve for all those who think they can assault the less privileged and get away from it.
All these embarrassments were avoidable if the honourable had been honourable enough to control his emotional outburst, by just simply paying the gentle man bolt driver his professional fee
Emeka Monye Is A Journalist, Works With ARISE NEWS.
News
10 feared dead as building collapses in Ibadan
No fewer than 10 individuals have reportedly lost their lives, while seven others were rescued in a building collapse in Jegede Olorunsogo, within the Ona Ara local government area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Confirming the incident to Vanguard, General Manager of Oyo State Fire Services, Rev. Akinyemi Akinyinka, said they received distress calls from the people in the neighborhood at 2 a.m.
According to him, “May I inform you that Oyo State Fire Services Agency received a distressed call at around 2 am this morning at Jegede Olunloyo area, Ibadan, of which 10 persons have been recovered from the debris of the collapsed building, while 7 persons were rescued alive.”
“Rescue operation is still going on. I thank you.”
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