Against the backdrop of genocidal threats to kill Igbo in Lagos and South west states for not participating in the protest to #EndBadGovernance, some Igbo men and women have responded to inquiries by Political Economist NG on why they shunned the protest.
Recall that since Thursday, August 1, when the protest started, the south east and major markets across the nation controlled by Igbo have remained calm with some traders seen displaying their wares amid caution.
In Lagos, Igbo-dominated markets were calm and other Igbo men and women who are not into trading remained aloof from the protests.
Predictably the protest turned violent with many fatalities recorded nationwide.
Property of varying values were either torched or vandalized across the nation with Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Niger states worst hit by the protests and the concomitant vandalism.
However, while the protest entered its third day on Saturday, Igbo across the nation have insisted they will not participate in the protests. Those who spoke to Political Economist NG gave different reasons why they shunned the protest.
“We are not part of the protest because we did not create the situation that brought hunger upon the nation. Those who created the mess know themselves and they should face it with their full chest,” said Okey Japan as he introduced himself, a trader at the popular Ladipo auto spare parts market in Lagos.
Another respondent in the market, Rosemary Ogbonna, a restauranteur, said they are abstaining from the protest because the “good governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has pleaded with Lagosians not to do anything that will lead to violence in the state.”
Rosemary said as law-abiding citizens, Igbo in Ladipo market resolved to step back from any protest for fear that when it leads to violence, their shops and businesses would be looted and vandalized by thugs.
“My people (Igbo) have suffered so much loss doing business in this country in the hands of fellow Nigerians, we have learnt to maintain our lane of peace and prosperity. We want peace at all times to do our business or don’t we deserve peace?,” she asked rhetorically.
At the busy Alaba International Market in Lagos, the attitude was the same. There was calmness all round the market except there was lull in commercial activities. Not many shops were open on Thursday and Friday, but activities picked up on Saturday.
In Kano which became a theatre of destruction on Thursday, Igbo in Sabon Gari area stayed indoors and ensured their shops were under lock and key. The reason, says Mr. Chidi Ukeh, a supermarket owner is to avoid loss of lives and property.
“From experience, we know there is no protest in Nigeria without violence and we end up the victims of such violence,” he told Political Economist NG.
In the entire south east, there was near-zero hunger protest. Those who tried to advance the course of the protest were disappointed as people ignored them to mind their shops and businesses.
“There is no protest here in Abia. I am just coming back from Umuahia and you can see that vehicles are moving, people are happily doing their businesses,” said Chinedu Mbam, an Aba-based businessman. “The only day we did not open shop this week was on Monday which is sit-at-home day in the south east,” he told Political Economist NG on Saturday.
In Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, there was calm with little commercial activities, but certainly no crowd of protesters as the protests entered day 3.
