MONDAY: 13th September, 2021: The attention of the Abia State Government has allegedly been drawn to the persisting sit-at-home order, which may compromise the possibility of writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations for Abia students.
According to a statement released on Monday by the State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, the sit-at-home order was reportedly endorsed and illegally enforced by a “group of hoodlums hiding under the identity of agitators in the South-East region to cause chaos in the state.
He described the act as unacceptable, stating that the State Government would not allow any individual or group to cripple its people with fear, to the extent of negatively impacting the education of innocent school children who are billed to write WASSCE on Monday, September 13, and Tuesday, September 14.
The Abia State Government therefore directed all security agencies in the state to be fully stationed at all flashpoints on Monday as well as maintain regular patrols to ensure the safety and protection of law-abiding citizens and visitors from any form of molestation.
The statement reads in part, “While we do not begrudge any citizen the right to sit at home or go about their normal duties, as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others, we cannot afford to sit idly and watch the future of our children jeopardized and the economic well-being of our people further wrecked over a matter we believe can be resolved judicially or through political negotiations.
“We, therefore, advise parents to ensure that their children go to the examination centres for their papers while teachers and examination supervisors are to ensure the protection of the children before, during and after the examinations.
“Other citizens are also encouraged to go about their normal duties without fear of molestation and leaders of all markets and transport unions in the state are advised to ensure that markets are open and transport vehicles deployed by their members for regular activities on Monday and beyond unless otherwise advised by Government.”
