It was a day of happiness in Abia State today, (Wednesday) November 10, 2021 as the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was brought before the Justice Binta Nyako Federal High Court in Abuja to continue the trial against him bothering on alleged terrorism and treasonable felony, even as most Southeasterners called the charges afterthought and trumped up which cannot stand the text of legal fireworks.
However, the sit-at-home declared by IPOB because of the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was strictly observed in Abia State and other parts of the Southeast region on Wednesday with banks, markets, schools and government premises under lock and key. Nonetheless, some private schools defiled the order and opened their gates with few students attending.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu appeared in court on today (Wednesday) highly optimist of winning his enemies over the flimsy allegations against him with the two the major cities in the state, Umuahia, the state capital and Aba, the commercial nerve centre turning like ghost towns.
His lawyers and well-wishers posed photographs with him, even as the highly elated IPOB leader looked more trendy and handsome than ever before, thus putting his traducers in a state of anarchism.
Meanwhile, residents of the cities of Abia, like in other parts of the Southeast, remained indoors in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu whose family, IPOB and other well meaning Nigerians have continued to call for his unconditional release.
Our Reporter observed that the people’s decision to remain indoors and shun other activities outside their homes could also be for the fear of uncertainty that may come if they venture outside.
However, there are some motorists and tricycle operators known in local, parlance as Keke riders who could not stay at home because of some adverse consequences staying at home may result to them and their families.
A tricycle operator told our Correspondent that he took the Keke on hire purchase arrangement at the cost of N1.5million and that continuing observing the frequent sitting at home may jeopardise his chances of meeting up with the payment of the tricycle.
“And besides that, I have to feed my family; so I have to take the risk of going out to look for my daily bread despite the odds. I pray not to run into some hoodlums operating in the guise of IPOB”, he opined.
In some parts of the state, commuters were stranded as vehicles plying interstate routes were unavailable. A business centre operator said he had to return home because only him opened his business centre in his street, pointing out that he was frightened by the quietness of the street where his business centre was situated.
Dr Charles Chinekezie, a human rights activist, believed that the present tension in the Southeast will ease as soon as the federal government releases Nnamdi Kanu and engage IPOB in a meaningful dialogue.
“Don’t you observe that the residents of Abia State are happy that Nnamdi Kanu is brought to court today? Therefore, the government can reduce tension by releasing him and making the matter a non issue”, he contended.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
