Just when things should be getting better, they seem to be getting worse. This is about the so-called Monday sit-at-home exercise that was forced on the people of the Southeast Zone by Biafra agitators. In the thick of this phenomenon, it was very much understandable for people to stay back home owing to the killing of those who disobeyed their order.
In Anambra, things were no different as those in other neighbouring states. And so, markets, public institutions and schools remained shut on Mondays. Today, however, it is no longer the case.
Indeed, since the launch of Operation Udo Ga-Achi by the Anambra State Government, its hit squad, Agunechemba, has been able to raid many of the hideouts of these hoodlums masquerading as Biafra activists and flushing them out.
The result has been almost instantaneous. Suddenly, the kidnapping activities that were almost a daily routine began to abate. From daily occurrences, they became occasional and today, life can be said to have returned to normal.
But rather than come out from their shells, many people are still staying indoors in such a way as to suggest that they are enjoying it. However, it is acknowledged that it is the prerogative of individuals to elect to stay home on such days or not, especially those doing private business. But when public servants are also involved in this action, it becomes worrisome.
In many communities in Anambra State, schools no more open on Mondays. Whereas in some communities like Agulu, Monday academic activities have been taken to Saturdays, other places are observing a four-day week and this does not augur well for students and pupils of the state.
Civil servants are also not left out and a visit to government ministries on Mondays will reveal what looks like a ghost town.
When the Anambra Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, initially tried to woo such people back to work, it failed because the situation on the ground then still showed that the hoodlums were very much around. Today, however, those hoodlums have beaten a retreat and have crossed over to other states.
It is however, particularly disconcerting to see Awka, the capital city of Anambra, still seeming deserted on Mondays, despite Awka being the safest place in the state even in the thick of the chaos generated by the sit-at-home order.
We believe that the State Government has now done its work considerably, and it is now bad of any worker to continue to sit back on Mondays. Government should therefore move against such workers, including schools. Private individuals and organizations can do as they like. It is their business. But Government should contact the headquarters of banks operating in the state to order their branches here to start opening for business again on Mondays.
Peace has started reigning in Anambra again and it is left for the citizenry to reciprocate government’s gesture by returning to work on Mondays. That will also dampen the morale of those against progress in Anambra State and Igbo Land.
We urge the citizenry in Anambra State to therefore, resume working on Mondays. The danger is fast abating and we should not dwell on the past.
