Elections postponement: Igbo traders close shops in Kaduna over fear of looters

The postponement of the presidential and national assembly elections on Saturday has forced Igbo and traders in Kaduna and its environs to close their shops for the fear of attacks by looters.

This was even as they lamented that they have lost millions of naira as a result of the postponement.

When the Tribune Online visited the central market of Kaduna where most of the Igbo owned shops and other traders are situated, the shops were under locks and keys.

Even though some of the traders were visibly present, but they insisted that their shops would remain closed.

According to Alfred Chukwudi, a shop owner along Kano road by Benin street: “We were with our PVCs and ready to vote only to hear that the election has been postponed.  I am not happy over the postponement but then we have to be calm.

Chukwudi maintained that: “We can not open our shops now since already we have all decided to close the shops. Kaduna is very sensitive to things like that, in case of any upheaval, the youth could resort to looting.

A restaurant owner in Kabba road by Abeokuta street who craved anonymity remarked that if he had opened the restaurant he could have made around N30,000, saying, “you can see am just recounting my loss by remaining aloof.”

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Also speaking, the President General of the Igbo Welfare Association, Chris Nnoli contended that his kinsmen decided to close their shops because of the fear of being attacked in the case of any eventuality.

“They look forward to vote. The postponement dampened their spirits.  I am calling on them to remain calm and abide by the rules of the land.”

Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has said the postponement of the presidential election should have come earlier than now.

In a statement issued to the press on Saturday and signed by their National Publicity Secretary, Alh Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, he noted that ACF learned with regret the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s decision to re-schedule the elections slated for 16th February and 2nd March 2019, citing logistic challenges as the main reasons for the postponement.

“ACF appreciates the concern raised by INEC regarding its logistic preparation and its constitutional power to reschedule the elections for the express purpose of ensuring credible, free and fair elections that would meet universal acceptance.

“However, though ACF is not privy to the nature of the challenges and the time INEC noticed them, the forum thinks the shift should have been done earlier in order to reduce cost and inconveniences for all the parties concerned.

“The earlier assurances given to Nigerians by INEC that it would deliver on credible, free and fair elections on schedule, heightened the enthusiasm of Nigerians to look forward to the scheduled 2019 general elections.

“The political parties and NGOs embarked on vigorous campaigns and sensitisation programs on the need to free and fair elections. Foreign and domestic election observers mobilised themselves to participate in today’s elections process. Unfortunately, five hours to the scheduled elections the same INEC has reversed itself and citing logistic challenges.”