By Joe C. Anatune, Guest Columnist and Blogger
We are literally at a precipice. The needless bloodshed, wanton maiming and reckless destruction of property have shaken the foundation of our society. The economic losses are mind-boggling. These have unfortunately blurred the purpose of the real agitation. The manifestations are many and varied but totally negative.
Take Mr. Okeke Arinze for an example. He is an okada driver in the Ekwulobia neighbourhoods. Every Monday, Okeke idles away at home in the name of Sit-at-home. He loses income plus other opportunities. Apart from the Monday hollow rituals of Sit-at-home, there are other occasional sit-at-home days during which he does nothing. Many times, his family goes to bed without food, he hardly is able to afford the maintenance cost of his okada, neither is he able to pay his house rent nor meet his family’s medical bills. Year after year, month after month, Okeke has remained in the rat race.
The fact is that the Sit-At-Home order is gradually killing our means of livelihood and there is a better time for workers, traders, students, opinion leaders, etc to rise in unionism and say no to Sit-At-Home. Mass action is all that is needed to bring this Hydra-headed phenomenon to a close.
Fortunately, we have the newly sworn-in government of Anambra state led by Prof Chukwuma Soludo in support of the people’s mass actions against the Sit-At-Home. Soludo’s opinion and position on the agitation is well known. He believes that dialogue is the solution and as governor, he is adopting a multifaceted approach in bringing things back to normalcy. The good news is that already, progress is being made. More is expected in the days ahead. Everyone is invited.
Be of good cheer.
*Joe C Anatune, is a public policy analysyt
