By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri
Traders and residents of Imo State have lamented the negative impact of the frequent Sit-at-home order by non state actors in Imo and other south east states.
However, groceries traders whose fragile goods were damaged on Mondays as a result of inability to transport their goods to respective markets within the State have blamed Sam Ude led National Union Of Road Transport Workers whom they Accused of complying with the Sit-at-home order of the pro-Biafra agitators.
Traders who were interviewed by our correspondent who monitored the situation in the State on Monday lamented that they can not cope anymore, urging the State Government to provide means of transportation for them since Sam Ude led NURTW is complying with the IPOB Sit-at-home order instead of mandating his workers to always come out every Monday so as to ease transportation challenges.
Also, some residents made their feelings known in a separate interview with 247ureport at Popular Ekeukwu Owerri market, located in Owerri Municipal Council Area, Imo State Secretariat Complex, owerri and Government House Junction where some residents were left stranded without vehicles to transport them home.
A lecturer in the State who simply identified herself as Akude Iwu said that she is stranded and can not go back home because of scarcity of bus to take her home from work, having managed to trek from Okigwe Road to Control Post, Onitsha road.
She said: “as I speak to you,am just managing to trek home because of scarcity of commercial vehicles. The leadership of the Union Of Road Transport Workers in the State should be investigated and punished for Obeying Sit-at-home threat at the detriment of Imo residents and workers.”
Akudo appealed to governor Uzodimma to do something by either directing Ude led NURTW in the State to make vehicles available for residents who do not observe the Sit-at-home order, or sack Ude led team if they continue to obey the order from non state actors.
A staff in the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development who did not want his name in print, also said that the top Government Appointees including commissioners in the ministries observe the Sit-at-home order, which according to him is taking a huge part of their works at the State Secretariat.
According to him, many people thought that it was only businessmen and women that observe the Sit-at-home.
“The truth is that, except the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Head of Service, rest of the commissioners and Permanent Secretaries in the ministry observed Sit-at-home today.
“It may interest you to know that each time we come to work on Mondays, we do less jobs because Commissioners observe Sit-at-home, it is not our fault.
Meanwhile, Banks, supermarkets, schools, and some government established revenue agencies were closed on Monday over Sit-at-home order.
An intra-state bus driver, Nonso Nwadike also decried the situation, describing the Sit-at-home threat as dangerous.
“We know it is difficult, but i think those in Government should assist to proffer compromise alternative.
“I don’t have any other work doing than to drive from Naze Aba to Douglas Road and come back and the little money I get I use it to take care of my family.
“We, commercial drivers and the Union must come together and look for a way to assist the Government,” Nonso said. (247).
Meanwhile, The NURTW Chairman Sam Ude, when contacted by our correspondent for more clarification said that he is down and currently in the hospital.
