No Protest in Anambra as Traders Open Shops
Despite the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest across Nigeria, residents of Anambra State have shunned the demonstration, opting to go about their normal businesses. Economic and commercial activities in the state’s commercial cities, Onitsha and Nnewi, as well as the capital, Awka, have returned to normal.
According to a PUNCH correspondent, residents stayed indoors during the early hours of Thursday, leading to a partial decline in economic and commercial activity. However, by later in the day, major thoroughfares and marketplaces were bustling with activities as buyers and customers continued to flood the markets, defying the protest.
A trader and member of the Onitsha Main Market Exco, Emeka, explained that they did not participate in the protest as the leadership of the market had earlier denounced the demonstration, citing the negative impact it would have on their businesses.
"I opened for business today as you can see. Although, initially, there was apprehension and mixed feelings which made the atmosphere in the market scanty. This was because some traders who came in the morning just hung around and watched events as they unfolded before opening their shops. There is no protest in Anambra and we are not interested in the protest as they have accused us and some of our leaders of always instigating protests," Emeka said.
Major roads, which were initially deserted, and motor parks, which were initially under lock and key, were filled with activities later in the day. In the industrial town of Nnewi, most stores and artisans’ shops were open for business as traders and youths shunned the protest.
In a statement, the United Igbo Elders Council Worldwide expressed satisfaction with the outcome, attributing the South-East residents’ attitude to the differential treatment of human rights by the protest organizers. "Right now, even before the August date, the Igbo are already being threatened, attacked and molested in some parts of the country with no word of condemnation by those said to be fighting against bad government," said Prof. Obasi Igwe, the council’s Director of Media and Publicity.
The statement added that the Igbo population, being the major victims of the situation, understands the Nigerian situation very well and knows what can be done to address it, starting with ending the unparalleled oppression of Easterners.
