The burning issue of pro-Biafra agitation seems to have no end, particularly in the Southeast Zone of Nigeria, as businesses, markets, schools, and transportation services were almost practically disrupted on Friday within Enugu metropolis in compliance with the Biafra Memorial Day.
Public schools and private schools alike did not open their gates for pupils and students. It was learnt that while students of private schools were asked to be absent from school on Friday because “today is Biafra Day,” authorities of Government-owned schools were rather diplomatic in their management of information. “The school authorities told us to stay at home as they don’t want anything untoward to happen to any student or staff,” said a student of GTC, who didn’t want his name mentioned. “The security people can’t be everywhere at the same time,” the boy further quoted the school authorities as having told the students.
NewsBits recalls that the late Biafran leader, the then Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, then military governor of the defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria, on May 30, 1967, declared the independence of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria, a development that later snowballed in the Nigeria-Biafra War.
Apparently, the latter-day pro-Biafra agitators, particularly the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have considered it appropriate to commemorate the day (May 30) in honour of the Biafran fallen heroes who lost their lives in the civil war.
The spokesman of IPOB, Emma Powerful, in a statement last week, asked people in “Biafra land to stay indoor and watch their television or listen to radio as mark of compliance, and also respect for the dead Biafrans who died in battle or those civilians who were killed slowly by hunger, starvation, diseases, malnutrition, bombs, etc.”
But security operatives reassured residents of Enugu State to go about their normal lawful business activities without fear of intimidation. Armed security operatives were seen in Hilux vehicles patrolling the metropolis to foil any attempt to cause a breach of public peace.
It seemed that Enugu residents have decided to stay indoors out of their own volition rather than by compulsion, NewsBits observed. Following this development, many busy commercial centres of the Coal City were almost completely deserted as drivers of commercial buses parked their vehicles along the road, while most filling stations, mass transit operators refused to operate.
NewsBits Reporter who monitored the situation observed that the ever-busy Agbani Road, Okpara Avenue, and other busy roads became a shadow of their former selves. Not many small buses and tricycles, otherwise known as Keke-Napep, offered minor services as of 11.30 am.
A businessman man James Nweke, said: “Compliance is total. You can see that everywhere is deserted and nobody forced anybody to sit at home or comply to the day. It shows that Biafrans want their independence. They do not want to be part of Nigeria any longer.
“Before now, when Nnamdi Kanu and Simon Ekpa had not been caught, they used to force compliance, but today, you can see that even without being forced, people have decided to comply with the Biafra Day.”
Also, a minibus driver said: “I just decided to come out today because I need money for my family’s needs. If not, I should have stayed at home for the Biafra Day.”
Still, an elderly man, Nwokeke Ude said: “Biafra Day has come to stay, and so long as they are holding Nnamdi Kanu, people will continue to observe the Biafra Day. Many have come to realise the bitter truth in the sermon of freedom, self-determination, and Independence of Ndigbo from Nigeria, which Kanu has been preaching over the years.”
Yet, another indigene who preferred anonymity said: “So long as injustice continued to be meted out on Ndigbo in Nigeria, people will continue to observe the Biafra Day.”
