Shops and other business concerns on Friday ,August 2, reopened for business in Imo State.
Unlike Thursday, August 1, which was the commencement day of the 10-day national hardship protest, residents of Imo State, particularly its capital city Owerri, are going about their businesses without any molestation and intimidation.
Commuter motorists who provided skeletal services on day one of the protest are doing brisk runs on the second day of the protest, ferrying passengers to-and-fro their destinations without let or hindrance
A commercial Bus-Imo driver, Jonathan Onyiriuka said he supports the non- participation of South East in the nationwide protest.
According to him, let those who foisted the economic challenges on the country sort the problem themselves.
"How could a man shortly after his inauguration without even stepping into his office declare; "Fuel subsidy is gone'.?
A resident of Owerri, James Okere blamed the economic challenges on the economic policies of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration which he said have all backfired.
Okere said it was wrong for President Tinubu to remove subsidy on petrol without first providing palliative measures.
Traders at the popular Eke-Ukwu Owerri Market said all they request of the government is to provide an enabling environment for buying and selling to thrive.
According to Okorie Mbabie, a foodstuff dealer, the Igbo have never depended on government to forge ahead in this country.
"We know government does nothing for us. They have even shared juicy positions among themselves. All we plead is to be allowed to do our businesses.", Mbabie said.
Another trader, Johnson Okafor, who deals on motor spare parts at the New Market, Owerri toed the path taken by Mbabie.
Okafor waxed philosophical when he said that nobody should expect the government of Nigeria to do better than they are doing at present.
According to him, all everyone should be praying for is to rise above the skyrocketing prices of goods and services in the entity called Nigeria.
"We are used to government not providing for us. So, why should we join the protest to while away precious time? he asked.
A company executive, Chukwudi Nwabosi maintained that protests would compound the already parlous economy than revive it.
He pointed at reports disclosing that some protesters lost their lives and properties being destroyed in parts of the country.
According to him, protest has never solved any problem in the country.
He advised Nigerians to wait for the next general polls to vote out the bad government tormenting them at present.
Nwabosi said Nigerians should gird their loins to vote out Tinubu in 2027 and ensure he is sacked from office.
https://nigerdeltaconnect.com/abia-postpones-planned-restrictions-on-tricycles-motorcycles
