All businesses, stores, and artisan’s shops in Nnewi and Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State, opened as traders and youths shunned the #EndBadGovernance# nationwide protest that commenced yesterday all over the country.

Early morning commercial transportation was active as usual in Nnewi and Onitsha, as people headed to work and markets. Despite nationwide protests planned for the day, the Igbo people had previously expressed their disapproval of these actions.

The United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) Worldwide has publicly opposed the planned protests. In a statement released yesterday, signed by its Director, Media and Publicity, Prof. Obasi lgwe, and its Coordinator General, His Lordship Alpha Justice, expressed concern over the organisers' perceived discriminatory treatment of the Igbo people and other Nigerians regarding human rights. The group accused the protest organisers of ignoring the targeted injustices, killings, and official complicity affecting the Igbo region over the past nine years, a situation they find baffling due to the lack of empathy.

UNIEC further noted that “they have expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and harassment targeting Igbo people in Lagos, particularly ahead of the planned August protests. They criticise the silence of those who claim to oppose bad governance in the face of these attacks.

While recognising the broader issues facing Nigeria, the UNIEC believes that addressing the ongoing oppression of Easterners is crucial to stabilising the country. Instead of supporting the planned protests, the council has presented a ten-point agenda to the president aimed at restoring peace and order.

Some of the requests include the immediate lifting of the economic and port blockade against the Igbo/East, imposed since 1967 and subsisting till today, by which Port Harcourt, Bonny, Opobo, and other Eastern ports were rendered infertile, except for oil purposes, forcing the Igbo to primarily en masse to Lagos to conduct their maritime businesses.