Two governors in the South East part of the country and the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) are flexing muscle over the directive by the latter for people to stay at home today to protest the arrest and deportation of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Governor David Umahi has directed residents of Ebonyi State to ignore the sit-at-home issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra and feel free to go about their lawful businesses on Monday, August 9, 2021.
Umahi said his administration was committed to developing all sectors of the State and could not afford to be dragged backward under any guise.
The governor, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant (SA) on Media and Publicity, Mr Francis Nwaze, emphasized that Monday remained a working day across the State, adding that “Markets, banks, schools, etc, will operate normally.”
He urged the general public to feel free to go about the lawful businesses without any fear of intimidation or molestation.
While the governor appealed to the youths to desist from engaging in acts capable of breaking down of law, he directed the security agencies to be on alert and ensure that all law-abiding citizens go about their duties unmolested.
Besides,the Anambra State Government has warned workers of dire consequences should they miss work on Monday just as Indegenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) warned that anyone who steps out of his or her house same day will have himself to blame.
The group had imposed sit-at-home order on South East to protest the arrest and deportation of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
A circular issued by the Head Of Service (HOS) Mr.Larry Uduh made available to journalists on Sunday directed that “all workers in the State must attend to their duties on Monday 9th August 2021 as failure to do so will result in severe sanctions including loss of Salary for the month of August”.
The circular further urged all Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries to monitor and report compliance.
But a statement issued by the media and publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful stated that “Monday Sit-at-home order is sacrosanct”.
It stated that the entire Biafra land will be locked down every Monday from 6.00am to 6.00pm beginning from August 9, 2021until its leader “Nnamdi Kanu who was abuducted in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria and locked up in DSS dungeon in clear violation of international laws is freed”.
It said the order became necessary because Kanu is suffering for their freedom.
The statement added: “All markets, schools, motor parks, airports, and public places in Biafra land should shut down from morning to evening every Monday. We understand the economic implications of this measure but we are constrained to take it so that the world will know that our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not alone in the struggle for Biafra autonomy”.
It called for immediate release of Kanu and their total freedom, as they cannot hesitate to pay any sacrifice needed to achieve this including locking down the entire Biafra land on Mondays.
It advised all residents and visitors in Biafra land to comply with the order so as to avoid any clash or intimidation “by the wicked Nigeria security agents”
It added:”The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the purported suspension of Monday sit at home order issued by leadership of IPOB has been suspended by some section of media. We wish to remind every Biafran that the sit at home order remain sacrosanct on Monday tomorrow.
“Anybody issuing press statement concerning IPOB sit at home order is fake and any statement without sit at home order or any activity of IPOB remain comrade Emma Powerful the media and publicity secretary for IPOB. Therefore, every Biafran should disregard regard every statement that is not from Emma Powerful or DOS and radio Biafra.
“We know the situation of those going exam tomorrow but our demand is for them to release our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and our people must understand that Fulani terrorists and co, stopped our people school for three years during the genocidal war in 1967 to 1970 and it did not kill our people and this is one day sacrifice for the release of somebody who has sacrificed a lot for our land. Anybody who venture to come out tomorrow Will regret his or her life. We warn you tomorrow is total lockdown in every part of Biafra tomorrow”, the statement reads.
