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MASSOB shuts down S.East
By OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LIKE in a strike situation, the
South-East, parts of the South-South zones of the country and Plateau State were
literally shut down yesterday as millions of residents complied with an order to
stay in-doors, by the Movement for Actualisation of the Sovereign State of
Biafra (MASSOB).
The order was pursuant to the group’s campaign for the
excision of an independent Biafran state from Nigeria.
Consequent upon the order, business,
vehicular and government activities were paralysed, yesterday, in major cities
of the two geo-political zones.
MASSOB embarked on passive resistance to
further deepen the Biafra demand, a demand it consistently said arose from the
marginalisation of Ndigbo in the scheme of things in Nigeria.
Indeed bonfires were lit on the streets of
Enugu as the Biafra campaigners apparently defied security warnings to steer
clear of the highways.
From the Eastern commercial hub of Onitsha,
Anambra State, ALPHONSUS NWEZE reports that the high point of compliance
to the MASSOB order was the closure of the burstling, multi-billion naira Main
Market which is supplier of goods to traders from as far off as Central,
Southern and West Africa.
Despite official directives that no market
should be shut, other markets in Onitsha also closed for business.
Banks, insurance firms and few government
agencies in Onitsha were also closed as the traders that patronise them stayed
at home.
The sign at the possible success of the
exercise was noticed very early in the morning when commuter buses which ply the
Asaba-Onitsha route went off the road and there were very few people going to
Asaba, the nearby Delta State capital.
Even the commercial bus that later resumed
for business, found it very difficult to get enough passengers.
The usually busy Asaba-Onitsha Expressway
was empty.
At the Onitsha Bridgehead up to Upper
Iweka where normally there are long traffic-hold-ups in the mornings, the road
was largely empty with a few youths loitering about.
The ever-busy Upper Iweka Park was also
virtually empty with only very few mini-buses calling for passengers to Lagos.
There was no luxury bus loading and none was coming from or to Lagos.
A mini-bus driver was visibly so impressed
that he said he was going back to park his vehicle, ask the wife to prepare a
good dish and drink to celebrate "the impending realisation at the Biafra
Republic."
Inside Onitsha metropolis, activities were
grounded as mini-buses, taxi-drivers withdraw their services leaving the streets
with few private cars and motorcycles.
At Nnewi, another thriving commercial
town, the situation was almost the same as markets including the popular Nkwo
Nnewi were shut. Commercial bus drivers also withdrew their services.
Banks and other offices at the bludgeoning
industrial and commercial town were equally closed.
Other major markets in Onitsha such as
Bridgehead, Ochanja Main and Relief, Old Spare Parts Market at Ugwuagba, Obosi,
Ose. Okwuodu, new Spare Parts, New Tyres and others, were voluntarily closed.
Traders and residents were seen discussing
in groups and jubiltating over the success of the stay-at-home action.
Owerri, the Imo State capital, turned into
a ghost town as residents stayed indoors and closed businesses, reports Anolu
Vincent.
Daily Champion
which monitored the situation in Owerri and its environs noted that commercial
activities were paralysed as markets, shops and motorparks were closed for
business while commercial motorcycle operators (a.k.a. Inaga) and taxi
drivers stayed off the roads, thereby impeding the movement of people and goods.
The few persons who defied the
stay-in-doors order, however, foisted green leaves in front of their vehicles in
a show of solidarity with MASSOB.
Commercial motorcycle operators (a.k.a.
Okada) plying the major roads of the capital consequently had a field-day as
anxious commuters were forced to pay higher fares.
The Owerri Main Market, the Relief Market
and the Timber Market were deserted as the traders locked their shops, gathered
in groups and discussed the situation in hushed tones.
At both the Orji and Nekede Mechanic
Villages, the situation was not different as the technicians abandoned their
business premises.
The usual heavy traffic jams in all the
major roads and streets disappeared.,
Doughlas and Wetheral Roads, adjudged the
busiest in Owerri, remained as quiet as a graveyard as residences and business
centres went quiet.
Some residents who spoke with Daily
Champion, hailed MASSOB and pleaded with the international community to
intervene.
Some of the banks visited had also closed
down with customers locked outside the gates.
The situation was, however, different at
the state secretariats in both Orlu and Okigwe Roads as civil servants reported
to their offices as early as 7.00 a.m. for normal duties.
Efforts to locate the MASSOB leader proved
abortive.
Anti-riot policemen positioned themselves
in strategic sections of the town.
In Aba, Abia State, residents also stayed
at home.
For instance, in Aba metropolis all the
seven major markets and the smaller ones remained closed.
Also, shops at major street markets were
locked.
Daily Champion
correspondent, JAYNE OSONDU, who monitored the Enyimba city, reported
that streets were deserted as people remained indoors.
When Daily Champion called at the
Ngwa Road Market the gates were locked.
Unlike in the past, during public holidays
when food stuff dealers stayed outside the gate and adjoining streets to sell
the items, no such transaction was seen.
There were also no transactions at Cement
Road Market, Ariaria International Market, Asa-Nnentuu International Auto Parts
Market, Building Markets Market at Opobo Road/Ikot Ekpene junction, Ogbo Hill.
At the Aba South, Aba North, Obingwa and
Osisioma local government secretariats, many workers did not report for work for
fear of getting involved in possible clash between MASSOB members and the
police.
Those who reported for work, came late as
they complained of non-availability of public transport to bring them to work.
Chairmen of these local government council
told Daily Champion they were preparing for a meeting. Also the popular
commercial motorcycle operators were off the streets.
At the Aba main motor parks, no vehicle
was seen off-loading or loading passengers.
Business was completely paralysed in the
state even as commercial banks did not open for normal transaction.
At the Union Bank located on Ngwa Road and
Factory Road, First Bank on Asa Road and Aba-Owerri road branches, Afribank on
Ogbor and Factory road, UBA at Ikot Ekpene road and other banks, such as Diamond
Bank, Zenith Bank, Standard Trust Bank, all at Ezuikwu/Factory Road, Daily
Champion observed that their gates were locked.
A visit to the National Electric Power
Authority (NEPA) and Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) offices proved
that the most of the workers stayed at home as the usual bubbling activities
were absent.
There was also no police presence on the
streets, even at the Ama Hausa settlement, where police always show presence in
situations of tensions in the past.
The situation was same in Umuahia as the
two major markets, Ogwumabiri and Timber markets were locked.
The streets were also deserted, apart from
a few civil servants who ventured out to report for duty.
But the usually busy Nnamdi Azikiwe State
Secretariat was quiet, an indication that it was affected by the MASSOB action.
There were, however unconfirmed reports
that about seven members of MASSOB were arrested by the police.
When Daily Champion contacted Mr.
Raymond Enabor, police spokesman in the state on phone he asked the reporter to
call him back.
Efforts made later to get in touch with
him were not successful.
Commerce and other economic activities
were paralysed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, as traders adhered to
the MASSOB directive.
The number of traders and buyers at the
popular Mile One and Railway Markets were scanty as most stores were closed,
writes TONY ITA ETIM.
Shops were also put under lock and key at
Illaabuchi, the major electronics market in the state, Ikwerre Road, Sangana
Street, Azikiwe Street and other parts of Diobe, Mile Two and Mile Three.
When Daily Champion visited the
Flyover Park at the centre of the city, the vehicles usually heading to Ariaria
Market in Aba, were absent.
The atmosphere in Port Harcourt was
reminiscent of one of those NLC-led strikes as everywhere was calm with few
vehicles on the streets.
There was, however, heavy presence of
mobile policemen on the streets patrolling the various flash points.
Some of the traders especially those
selling food and other perishables were seen waiting anxiously for the 4.00 p.m.
deadline to be over for them to commence business.
Other traders who opened their shops on
sighting approaching vehicles, hurriedly locked up their shops or ran away for
fear of being arrested.
In Warri, Delta State, Segun James reports
that business and commercial activities ground to a halt as Igbo businessmen and
traders in compliance with the stay at home order, refused to open their shops.
The oil city was virtually a ghost town as
all Igbo-owned business premises including food shops, complied with the order.
The police in Warri and Effurum may have
been caught unawares, as anti-riot and regular policemen were only drafted to
the streets at about 9.30 a.m.
Although it could not be confirmed why the
policemen were drafted to the streets, as there were no protests or acts of
hooliganism, Daily Champion gathered from the police Area Commander’s
office in Warri that the action was simply precautionary.
Daily Champion
also gathered that it was in a bid not to heighten tension in the city that
soldiers were not drafted in.
A drive round the city and its environs of
Effurum, Udu Ekpan and Agbarho show that majority of businesses are owned by the
Igbo’s who simply shut their shops.
At such places as Lower Erejuwa Spare
parts Market, Rubber Plantation Spare Markets, Ibo (Okere junction)
market and Effurum Spare Parts Market, there were no commercial activities as
all the stalls and stores were under lock and key.
The ever busy Warri/Sapele road, which is
the major road in the city, was virtually empty and the unending traffic jam was
visibly absent.
In Edo State, normal business activities
took place throughout the area as residents shunned the sit-at-home action,
reports VINCENT ADEKOYE.
Daily Champion
gathered that plain-cloth security men who had anticipated some level of
compliance were happy that shops remained in the various markets mostly
dominated by Igbos in Benin City, the state capital.
The development might not be unconnected
with the strong warning issued to leadership of MASSOB by the State Deputy
Governor, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, two days ago.
Chief Ogiadomhe who spoke during a visit
to the 4 Brigade Benin City, had warned that the state would not condone any act
that will threaten the peace on August 26 this year.
Jos, the Plateau State capital, was
paralysed.
Auto spare parts dealers, artisans and
other traders closed shop in response to the MASSOB call, according to
correspondent MOSES EZULIKE.
MASSOB provincial Administrator for
Plateau, Mr. Peter Aniekweani described the response as "a huge success."
According to him, the circulation of
leaflets by security agents alleging that MASSOB had imported arms to
destabilise Nigeria failed to discourage people who stayed at home.
In the South-West, commercial activities
in Lagos, the zone’s hub, were disrupted as most Igbo traders complied with the
MASSOB directive according to our reporter UFOMBA
UZUEGBU.
Daily Champion’s
visit to major markets, such as Alaba International Market, Odun Ade Building
Materials Market, and the popular Ladipo Auto Spare Parts market, revealed that
commercial activities were at the lowest ebb as most shops remained closed.
A handful of traders who turned up in the
markets refused to open their shops and attend to customers who probably were
unaware of the stay-at-home order.
Others simply milled around, discussing in
groups.
At Ladipo Auto Spare Parts market, Mushin,
virtually all the shops remained shut as a mark of solidarity for Biafra.
A trader, Mr. Donatus Ifeagwasi said "we
are adopting a ‘no-violence,’ ‘no war’ approach this time around to highlight
the problems we face in this country both as a tribe and business people.
Ndigbo have been cheated for too long in Nigeria."
"We fought a civil war and were told at
the end of it that there was no ‘victor, no vanquished.’ That slogan has proved
to be a fallacy. 30 years after the civil war, Ndigbo are still
marginalised in a country they fought hard to build," he added.
Another trader, Mr. Emma Ugwa said "Ndigbo
have been reduced to hewers of wood and drawers of water in Nigeria and we are
saying enough is enough. This struggle must continue until the Igbo are giving a
sense of belonging in Nigeria."
The stay at home order recorded low
compliance yesterday in Abuja and environs as most residents went about their
normal businesses, writes Abiodun Adelaja.
A visit to Idu Karimo, Gwagwalada an
Nyanya areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), dominated largely by MASSOB
South East indigenes, showed that most shops were open for normal business.
Some of the respondents who spoke to
Daily Champion stated that although they shared the ideals behind MASSOB’s
struggle, they were compelled to report for business due to "economic
constraints".
A few others, however, claimed ignorance
of the directive calling on MASSOB to exercise restraint in its quest for
declaration of Biafra as the campaign may jeopardize the vast investments of
Ndigbo in other parts of the country.
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