Group backs Mbah over ban on sit-at-home
A group under the auspices of Coalition for Justice, Equity and Good Governance has thrown it’s weight behind Gov. Peter Mbah’s ban on Mondays sit-at-home in Enugu State.
The coalition made this known in a communique issued in Enugu after an emergency meeting held on Monday July 31, 2023.
In the communique jointly signed by Barr. Peter O. Aja, Chief Emeka Nnolim , Engr. Okey Eneokwe
Engr. Armstrong I. Nwankwo
Sir Ephraim Offiah and Oscar Ugwuoke (PhD), the coalition said it was solidly behind Mbah.
The communique reads:”After an extensive emergency meeting by the National body of the Coalition for Justice, Equity and Good governance on the aftermath of enforcement of the ban on the Monday sit-at-home in Enugu State by Enugu State Government held on July 31, 2023, it was resolved that:
“The Coalition for Justice, equity and good governance deeply sympathized with victims of the avoidable incident of 25th July, 2023 at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu.
“The Coalition is concerned about some inciting views and comments made by some individuals over the sealing of some shops in order to compel compliance to the order of the state government banning the illegal sit-at-home in Enugu State; to wit;
“The State Government has no legal right to seal those shops
Government’s approach is anti-people and confrontational.
“That the incumbent administration never issued the order to sit-at-home and so can’t cancel it.”
The group noted that the sit-at-home order which originated on 9th August, 2021 by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) was to protest the illegal rendition and detention of her leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
According to the coalition: “This order had since been cancelled and repeatedly emphasized by the leadership of IPOB.
“The current sit-at-home order was made by a criminal named Simon Ekpa who resides in far-away Finland.
“On 1st June, 2023, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State in exercising his constitutional role, declared an end to the sit-at-home in Enugu State, effective from 5th June, 2023.
“This declaration was made after consultations, town hall meetings, with critical stakeholders and in line with the recommendation of the transition committee “to ensure the restoration of five (5) days working week in Enugu State within his first one hundred days in office.”
The coalition lamented that sit-at-home had done great damage to the economy of Enugu State; properties worth billions of naira lost; led to the loss of many lives; scared investors from Enugu State and led to businesses relocating out of Enugu in their numbers.
It said that no responsible government would fold her arms and watch such calamity befall her citizens.
“By virtue of the provisions of relevant laws, the right and use of land and buildings, which include shops are subject to the regulatory and supervisory roles of the governor of the state.
“The governor, therefore, has the legal right to seal or unseal a building or shop within the state which includes Ogbete Main Market, in furtherance of governor’s power to govern, ” the communique said.
It advised shop owners and allottees who feel that government had overreached its powers to seek redress appropriately.
“The forceful reopening or removal of the seal with the toga of authority of the State government is in itself confrontational, its an affront and a call for dispute with the constituted authority which cannot be condoned in any civilized society, ” the group stated.
The Coalition urged His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah not to relent in his effort to restore the glory, industry and entrepreneurial spirit for which the Igbos are known for in Enugu State.
“We further enjoin all residents of Enugu State to continue to support His Excellency Bar. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah in his efforts to restore sanity in the state.
“To interface with all the security agencies dispatched to protect the state and residents to go about their businesses secure in the knowledge that Enugu State is safe ” the communique stated.
