1 month ago
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Economic and commercial activities took place in some cities across Anambra State despite the restriction of movement order placed ahead of the local government election in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
Our correspondent observed that traders within the neighbourhood equally opened for businesses, as many were of the opinion that they shunned the exercise because they felt their votes no longer counted.
Some of the traders, in separate interviews with journalists, lamented that the information about the local government elections was not conveyed to them properly.
A fruit seller at the popular Upper Iweka market in Onitsha, Josephine Ugor, said, “I had to open for business as most of my fruits are fully ripped. I was not even aware of the election till yesterday. My fruits were ripped, and I needed to be here to sell to my customers.
“I was not even aware of today’s election, no campaign whatsoever, and I need to sell my fruits because I don’t want to run into loss.
“Thank God there is partial movement of vehicles and humans, I know that I will definitely make more seals before the end of today.”
Another trader in Ogidi, Idemili North LGA, Nwamaka Uzor, a bread seller, noted that she opened for business based on the nature of her commodity.
“As you can see, I trade on bread, and there is a short limit at which I have to sell them off. Hence, they will get spoilt, and I don’t want to run into losses.
“I know about the election, but I still have to open for business, those that went to vote will have to buy from me,” she said.
Another food vendor at the Awka Old Road in Nkpor, near Onitsha, Alfred Kenechukwu, said, “I don’t have faith in this election as there are indications that the transition committee chairmen are being returned as winners of the election. Therefore, the election is a formality. It’s so sad what elections have become in this country.
“I have to come out to do my business today because I already processed the food yesterday, and if I don’t sell it today, it will get spoilt. Moreover, I was not aware of any election. Moreover, the information about the restriction of movement came very late yesterday; it was information that should have come three days before.”
At the tomato market beside Army Gate along the Onitsha-Awka-Enugu Expressway, commercial activities took place as traders displayed their wares while buyers and sellers made transactions.
A tomato seller, Nkem Osigwe, said, “I am not aware any election is taking place today. I only came out of my house and saw that the roads were a bit scanty, and that was when I learned about it. I have to open for business today because I deal on perishable items.”
Our correspondent also observed that there was no presence of security operatives along the road, as there was partial movement.
