THIS is not the best of times for commercial activities around Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State; sales have plummeted with closure of the council, following a rift in the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Council staff who usually patronise the traders have been out of work for about two months now, and without salaries.

A visit to the area showed idle and unhappy traders. Many sat with hands on their chins. Some played games on their phones. Others made calls.

A mother of three children, Mrs. Patricia Uzoho, who sells roasted plantain and fish complained: “My experience, since the closure is frustrating. When things were normal and workers were around, I used to sell about 15 to 20 tubers of yam with many bunches of plantain in a day. But now, I cannot even sell off seven tubers. You can see that the situation is so bad. My children are in school. There are books and fees to pay for; we cannot meet up, due to poor sales.”

Bayo Kayode, a graduate who sells mobile phones accessories, lamented: “All our customers come from the council. The lingering problem and the two-day warning strike in the state by the organised labour worsened the situation. I am disturbed about the effects, if this persists for the next two weeks.”

Bayo reasons that since the political actors are yet to resolve their differences, the Head of Administration in the council should be allowed to assume responsibilities to enable workers return and earn salaries.

“Things are daily getting worse. We are looking to God for miracles. You can see how dry everywhere is. Traders are idle. This place used to be very busy,” Bayo said.

Another trader, Neka Bari, disclosed that whereas traders used to arrive at their shops before 8am, they now come very late, and sometimes don’t show up at all.

“Since this crisis started business has been very slow. Sometimes, throughout the day, you might sell nothing. Since the workers are not here, we can not make meaningful sales,” Bari said.

Some of the council staff said that apart from the trauma of staying at home, they are finding it difficult to meet financial responsibilities without salaries.

They lamented the high cost of living in the country and appealed to the federal and state government to come to their rescue.

Port Harcourt-based lawyer, John Chukwu, said it is wrong that the council remains sealed by the police, despite a court order directing them to vacate the premises.

He described continued closure of the secretariat as political, saying the police cannot justify their claim of protecting the complex.

The police barred the reporter from taking pictures of the council, police van and security personnel. A more distant shot was, however, successful.