ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Furtherance to his efforts to end the illegal Mondays sit-at-home order by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Governor Peter Mbah on Saturday held a town hall meeting with individual groups and stakeholders in Enugu State.
He asked members of the public to resume work and go about their normal daily businesses as various security and intelligence agencies have, in their joint and collaborative efforts, given assurance of their safety, including proactive responses to distress calls at any time of the day.
Present at the meeting held at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu, were stakeholders and representatives of various bodies, institutions, organizations, associations, including government officials and heads of security and intelligence agencies.
After extensive and exhaustive deliberations at the town-hall meeting, which also had the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, in attendance, a call for end to Monday sit-at-home order was endorsed by all.
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According to a communique read by Chidiebere Onyia, the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the decision of the Enugu State Government canceling the Monday sit-at-home order, is as a result of its detrimental impacts on productivity, investment flow.
The stakeholders commend Governor Mbah on the laudable steps taken so far to ensure peace is returned to the State.
Recall that the Governor recently visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, asking for the release of the leader of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and opening door for dialogue with those with genuine grievances.
The communique partly reads: “That the town-hall reiterates the position of the State Government, and further appeals to the President to act on the governor’s request by releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and expedite the process of national healing, national integration and national reconciliation.
“That the town-hall calls on the State Government to resuscitate, overhaul, rejig and strengthen internal security mechanisms such as the Community Policing, Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards, amongst others, in the state.
“That the stakeholders and representatives of various groups at the town-hall meeting – traditional rulers, religious leaders, heads of institutions, corporate bodies, youth and students leaders, transport and market associations, etc. – shall educate and sensitize their members on the gains of ending the Monday sit-at-home and getting back to work.
“That the security agencies should continue to work round the clock in order to reassure citizens and residents of their safety, not only on Mondays, but also on other days of the week.
“That the town-hall proposes that the Government should procure special commercial city buses and taxies that will ply the routes beyond 9.00 pm when tricycle operators are prohibited from doing so.
“That the town-hall supports any security measure or measures and other steps the State Government deems necessary in order to end the Monday sit-at-home and get people back to work in the overall interest of the state and its residents.
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“That the town-hall urges members of the public to continue to support the government and security agencies by sharing vital information with them, including suspicious movements and gatherings by strange persons or groups of persons in any part of the state, including forests and borders.
“That the town-hall urges persons and groups with genuine grievances to take the opportunity of dialogue offered by the Government of Enugu State to engage the government on their grievances to ensure lasting peace and security in the state.”
The communique was signed by Comrade Stephen Aniagu President; Enugu State Amalgamated Traders Association, Fabian Nwigbo Chairman; Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Ben Asogwa Chairman, Trade Union Congress; Comrade Nweke Odoh T. Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Enugu State Chapter.
Others are, Comrade Ebuka Okoh Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria Enugu State Chapter; Paully Eze Chairman, Association of Presidents-General, Enugu State; CP Ahmed Ammani
Commissioner of Police; Onyebuchi Igboke Chairman, NGOs; Ugochukwu AniChukwu, National Association of Nigerian Students; Chief Martins Asogwa NURTW, Enugu State; Ugo Ferdinard Ugwueze Coordinating Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Enugu State; Rev. Emmanuel O. Edeh Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Enugu State; Monday Onwuka Chairman, Tricycle Riders Association; HRH Lawrence Agubuzu Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council; Most Revd Emmanuel Chukwuma Bishop, Anglican Ecclesiastical Communion; Solomon Onah Chairman, ALGON Enugu State; Prince Chiwetalu Nwatu Coordinator, Financial Institutions in Enugu State; Hon. Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Ozioko Chairperson, Nsukka Traders Association; Jasper Onyeka Chairman, Organised Labour; Sammy Ajufor For the Media Community in Enugu State and Alor Edwin Ikechukwu Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council, Enugu State.