By Praise Chinecherem
Acting National Youth Leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu has decried effectiveness of Monday Sit-At-Home in remote communities of Southeastern states contrary to claims by state governments in the zone that the Sit-At-Home has been neutralized.
Okpalaezeukwu disclosed this after visiting parts of the remote communites in Anambra and Enugu States, while getting feelers from the group’s surveillance teams in Ebonyi, Imo and Abia States.
According to observations, most public facilities including schools, markets and even private businesses in the remote areas, were totally shut down, for fear of attacks by non-state actors.
Speaking with journalists after the monitoring, Mazi Okpalaezeukwu noted that Sit- at-home in Southeast has remained a challenge, regretting that efforts seem to only impact the shallow surface that could lead to its end.
He said, “It is only in the State Capital cities that the sit-at-home is not enforced, due to the reinforcement of security in those cities.
“The impact of the efforts to stop sit-at-home in the southeast states tends to be more effective in the state capitals. There are less efforts in the remote areas.
“Again, it is our finding, that the real evangelism against sit-at-home due to its peculiar negative impact, does not get to the real people- the bad and ugly, who are the factors that drive the sit-at-home, by their non-state activities, through which they instill fear in the populace.
“While we condem these non-state activities in its entirety, the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo youths, are willing and committed to projecting a non-kinetic approach that will hinge on engagement of these youths, especially the bad and ugly, to rehabilitate, reform and reintegrate them into the society.
“This shall primarily ensure that there is a positive change as regards sit-at-home in the Southeast.
“These non-state actors are never reasonable as long as they continue their negative actions and their activities present lawlessness and disorderliness. The impact is insecurity, fear, hunger and hostilities.”
