Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Youths from the five South East states have taken to the streets of Enugu metropolis in support of efforts to end illegal sit-at-home, which is crippling the zone’s economy.
Speaking to newsmen after the march, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths Worldwide, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, said the youths were “demonstrating the desire, resolve and endorsement of an end to sit-at-home in the South East.”
According to Okpalaezeukwu, Igbo youths and stakeholders have gathered here from the five states of the South-East to declare and endorse the end to sit-at-home.
“We acknowledge the fact that sit-at-home commenced because of our brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s detention. It gained so much support in solidarity with Kanu in the beginning.
“But as it is now, it is affecting us. Our economy is shrinking and its adverse effects are just too much.
“Miscreants and criminals are causing so much mayhem in our society in the name of sit-at-home and we say NO to all forms of criminalities in the South-East.
“Thus, we are convinced that it is now time to end it, just as Kanu himself has said,” he added.
Comrade Chidi Nzekwe, the South-East Coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said that educational institutions in the South-East do not operate on Mondays.
“Now we are talking about another 14 days of sitting at home. We want to encourage our youths and students to come out. Let us stand together to end this sit-at-home,” Nzekwe said.
On his part, Mazi Nnamdi Odo, Youth Leader, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Enugu State Chapter, stressed that the difference between the Monday march and others before it was the coming together of youth representatives and stakeholders from all South-East states.
According to Odo, we are from all five South-East states and we are here to speak with one voice against the un-progressive, anti-people and illegal sit-at-home.
He said, “Today, we are out to show solidarity with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s stand and the South-East governments that are trying to end sit-at-home.
“We are concerned that our economy is being crippled and we the youths are now taking this message very seriously because if we don’t kill sit-at-home, sit-at-home will kill us. God forbid.”
