August 01, (THEWILL) – The planned nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance in Ebonyi State witnessed the shutdown of public institutions like schools, banks, transportation and businesses, leading to the paralysis of both economic and social activities.
Observations by THEWILL across some of the streets in the Abakaliki metropolis witnessed scanty human and vehicular movement, as road users pay triple the old fare.
All the filling stations located along the popular Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway, markets like building material, and timber markets were also shut down.
Speaking in an interview with a resident of Abakaliki, John Mbonu, said that the people of the southeast have resolved to pull out of the planned nationwide protest.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo has told our people not to participate in the nationwide protest. It is everywhere in the news. Let those who want to protest go ahead. For the Igbo people, we are not going to protest.
“Anytime there is a protest, the people of the southeast are always the scapegoats. So, we have learned our lessons and learned to protect what we have. Yesterday, the Governor of the state and other leaders appealed to us not to participate in the protest.
“We know there is hunger and that the people are suffering. But there should be a better way to engage the government rather than taking to the streets, thereby creating an avenue for hoodlums to cause unrest.
“Those who are protesting in some states in the North have their reasons. But as I said, it is not appropriate for the people of the southeast to protest”, John said.
In total obedience to the Governor’s plea, Ebonyi State today, August 1st, 2024, is cool and calm. There is no Protest anywhere. I drove around town in Abakaliki this morning and behold, everywhere is calm.
A former Coordinator of Ndufu Ikwo, Hon. Brutus Orogwu wrote on his Facebook handle, “Roads and streets were scanty but no #protest anywhere. Even as I was driving EBBC was on as you can hear from the background, getting calls from across the state confirming that the youths obeyed the Governor’s plea. #HE Rt. Hon. Nwifuru Francis is a capacity. His plea to the youths in a Youth summit yesterday has been obeyed. Kudos to you, sir!”.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
