Despite the resolution of the governors, leaders and other stakeholders of the South East geopolitical zones,offices,businesses,streets and other concerns are shut this morning in compliance the two-month long sit -at-home protest ordered by the pro Biafra IPOB to press for the release of its detained leader,Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the SSS.
The group faults the extraordinary rendition of Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria and his subsequent incarceration in SSS custody as against being kept in prison custody pending his trial.
IPOB has persistently demanded his unconditional release and the issue is reportedly being ventilated in courts in Nigeria and Kenya.
Next hearing of Kanu’s matter brought against him by the Federal Government before Justice Binta Nyarko comes up October 21 and IPOB had reportedly threatened a month long shut down of the South East should the FG fail to produce him in court as was the case during the last sitting.
The sit-at-home protest better known as Ghost Monday has had a profound effect on business and other activities in the South East.
Motor parks and markets are shut with a corresponding debilitating effect on intra city and inter state vehicular movements.
Banks, offices and schools are also shut while major streets are bereft of the usual Monday heavy vehicular traffic as well the Enugu Port Harcourt and Enugu Onitsha expressways that are shorn of heavy Dangote and other articulated vehicles.
The underlying statement is that IPOB holds sway in the zone.
There is a low level security patrol by the police and soldiers with their patrol vehicles on the prowl.
Curiously this is coming after the governors,political,religious and community leaders as well as other holders had in an marathon security meeting declared among other things that sit-at-home would stop thenceforth.
So far there have no incidents of violence, of IPOB enforcement and consequent clashes with security agencies.
