Sigh Of Relief In South-East As IPOB Suspends Sit-At-Home Order

Amidst anxiety over the sit-at-home order imposed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which vocal leaders in the South East have condemned, re­lieving news emerged on Saturday that it had been called off.

The sit-at-home order will now take effect only on the day IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is to make appearance in court.

This is contained in a statement signed by the media and publicity Sec­retary of the group Emma Powerful on Saturday.

It said it appreciated the concern being expressed by the global IPOB fami­ly on the suspension of the weekly sit-at-home earlier announced by the IPOB Head of Directorate of State and that it knew that its people embraced the civil action whole­heartedly and without any compulsion.

However, it continued, the suspension of the sit-at-home by the IPOB Head of Directorate was as a result of a direct or­der from the leader of the group Mazi Nnamd iKanu and this meant that all commands from the Supreme Leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) would be obeyed and implemented to the latter.

It added that “In accor­dance with the directive from our leader, our Sit-at-home will in the mean time be observed on the date of our leader’s court appearances.

It reminded that the next court appearance of Kanu is October 21, 2021″.

It, however, said that if there was any reason or directive from the IPOB highest command that requires a reactivation of the suspended weekly sit-at-home, the leadership would lift the suspension and continue with the civil action.

Unease Over Lockdown

IPOB and its offshoot, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) recently imposed a lockdown of the South East, which they termed ‘Ghost Day’, during which no economic activity would take place every Monday with effect from last Monday, August 9, 2021.

Their grouse was the al­leged ill treatment being meted out to their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by officials of the DSS who they accused of not allow­ing their leader’s lawyers to have access to him.

They also alleged that Kanu was being denied medical attention, main­taining that there could be a grand design by the authorities to ensure that he would not leave the DSS facility alive.

To protest the alleged ill treatment, they declared that every Monday would be a ‘Ghost Day’ in the re­gion, during which there would be no movement or economic activities, warn­ing that anyone who dis­obeyed would be doing so at his or her peril.

Last Monday, which happened to be the first day of the lockdown, com­pliance was near total as roads, markets, business centres, companies, banks and other financial insti­tutions were deserted.

However, people who disobeyed the order were severely beaten up by the IPOB members and their supporters who marched round the cities to ensure compliance. Some people reportedly lost their lives in the process.

Before the lockdown was lifted, Sunday Inde­pendent sought the views of some public commenta­tors on the matter.

Hon. Dennis Adikwuru, a media communication expert and seasoned poli­tician in Imo State, main­tained that the lockdown in the five South East states would have grave consequences on the econ­omy of the South East in general and the individual states in particular.

Adikwuru, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and the party’s leader in Aboh Mbaise area of Imo State, stressed that locking down busi­ness premises, markets, government and private offices, banks and other institutions, schools and movements would amount to grounding the economy of the states.

He stressed: “Unfortu­nately, the IPOB whose members are mainly trad­ers and artisans are them­selves locked down.”

Adikwuru, Director General/National Facili­tator, Grassroots Employ­ers for Ihedioha, added, “On a sadder note, the losses of lives and prop­erties during the last Monday lockdown is some­thing touchy and deserves a ceasefire from the agi­tators of NnamdiKanu’s release.

Prof John Ebhomien, an All Progressives Con­gress (APC) chieftain and a former Consultant to the United Nations Office of Project Services, stated that the lockdown was uncalled for at this crit­ical period and should be resisted by the South Easterners and Nigerians in general.

Ebhomien, former World Bank/Internation­al Monetary Fund (IMF) economist and financial management expert, stated: “The economic implications of the lock­down, which they term as ‘Ghost Days’ will create unnecessary hardship on the people and the gener­al public, as people can­not move about without fear of being molested or killed.

“This is rascality taken too far and can best be de­scribed as gangsterism. In as much as IPOB is seek­ing self-determination, it has to be done with civility and decorum.

“The most economic im­plication of the lockdown is that it will affect the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), slow down the economy, create unnec­essary inflation, create food shortages, especial­ly the stable foods, both in the South East and the entire country.”

Also, Dr Tunde Moses Elebute, a development economist and former bank executive, stated the IPOB/ESN lockdown would surely lead to eco­nomic losses.

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According to Elebute, a human rights promot­er and Deputy Director, Crime Victims Founda­tion of Nigeria (CRIVI­FON), Lagos State chapter, “Both buyers and sellers of goods there will lose. The governments will lose revenue in those days of the lockdown.

“It will reduce the lev­el of production in those states, both in private and public sectors, leading to less income. New inves­tors, who do not know how long the lockdown will last, may be scared of investing in those states. So, the unemployment rate may continue to rise.”

Another Five Killed

However, five persons were reportedly killed on the same day whensuspect­ed IPOB/ESN members in­vaded Izombe Police Divi­sional headquarters in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

It was gathered that two policemen on duty were shot dead and three of the invaders also lost their lives.

According to reports, the attackers had planned to bomb the station but engaged the cops in a gun duel battle which resulted in the loss of lives.

The police spokesper­son for the Command, Michael Abattam, who confirmed the attack, said that five persons who in­cluded two cops and three hoodlums, died in the at­tack.