‘Let’s save southeast economy’ — Enugu clerics back Mbah’s call to shun sit-at-home

Godfrey Onah, Catholic bishop of Nsukka diocese, has backed Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu state, on an end to the Monday sit-at-home.

The directive was issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and has been observed by almost all southeast states. 

The cleric spoke on Sunday during a sermon at St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Nsukka, Enugu.

The call came a day after Mbah asked schools and businesses to quit observing the Monday sit-at-home, effective from June 6.

Mbah said residents must go about their activities without fear, assuring them that “adequate security measures have been taken to guarantee safety”.

Adding his voice to the situation, Onah said the sit-at-home is causing “too much” suffering for residents and “we have to be careful how we express our anger, or we may cause more problems”.

He hailed the “initiative” of southeast governors to end the practice across the region, adding that their moves must “include an increase in the effort to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention”.

“The suffering is too much. But, please, everybody should have mercy. Those that are angry should calm down. Many of us are angry, but we have to be careful how we express our anger, or we may cause more problems,” the cleric said.

On his part, Emmanuel Chukwuma, Anglican archbishop of Enugu province, urged residents to comply with the state government’s directive.

“Government has given directive. My advice and appeal is that they should comply so we can save the economy of the southeast,” he said.

“Now the governor has said it is safe to come out; therefore, people should come out to do their business and be free and set ourselves free from this bondage. It is a bondage, and we must be set free from it”, he concluded.

In a statement, presidents-general of Enugu state town unions, said the loss of Mondays since September 2021 had resulted in hardship, and caused incalculable economic losses to the state and region.

“The governor’s promise to transform Enugu from a public sector economy to a private-sector driven economy, raise the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) from the present $4.4 billion to $30 billion in eight years, make Enugu one of the top three economies, restore public water supply in Enugu metropolis in 180 days, and eradicate poverty, can’t happen if we continue to sit at home on Mondays. It presents our state to investors as a restive, insecure, and unproductive place,” the statement reads.