Mixed responses trail IPOB’s Sit-At-Home Order in S’East Nigeria
…Selective compliance in Anambra, Imo, Abia, light in Enugu, none in Ebonyi
Whereas majority of residents of Anambra, Imo and Abia States on Wednesday defied the pro-Biafra sit-at-home order to continue their normal socio-economic activities, there was very light compliance in Enugu State with little or no sign of compliance in Ebonyi State, Business Hilights can authoritatively report.
In major cities of Onitsha and Awka, Business Hilights South East Bureau chief gathered that government offices and other public places, including banks, schools, markets, motor parks and private offices were all conducting their businesses without molestation.
Just as some matured residents interviewed in both cities called on the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) to refrain from making the Federal Government regard the region as ingrate, youths in the region expressed allegiance to the group, whom the federal government had outlawed as a terror group last year.
In Rivers, business operators and commercial activities peaked as usual in key areas of Port Harcourt and Rivers State in general on Wednesday, an indication of failed IPOB order in the South South state.
Also in Ebonyi, indications were rife that residents complied with the Governor’s threat in his Democracy Day broadcast as he vowed to takeover any shop seen locked on Wednesday in compliance of the IPOB Sit-At-Home order to mark the anniversary of fallen heroes during the 30-month Nigeria-Biafra war which ended in 1970.
IPOB in a statement ahead of Wednesday order had averred that “But May 30 does not just remind us of the sacrifice of the soldiers, sailors and airmen of the great Biafran resistance of 1967-1970, but also of those who followed them in later conflicts; those who, in this era, stepped out to the streets of Igweocha, Onitsha, Aba, etc., to protest the resurgence of evil, those who were murdered at the vigil in Aba, those who were mowed down at Nkpor, and those who, more recently, lost their precious young lives at various locations in Biafraland, including at Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia.
“We wish Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi and the Fulani masters of the Arewa Consultative Forum will appreciate this point.”
Governor Umeahi had on May 29th in his Democracy Day speech, condemned the sit-at-home order and warned that traders in the state who fail to open their shops today would “forever” forfeit the same to government.
“Anybody that flouts this order will be decisively dealt with. I ask Ebonyi people to go about their businesses freely and peacefully,” Umahi said.
At the Oruta Ngele Stadium in Abakaliki, the state capital, the governor explained: “Let me say that when we, the southeast governors, say that we don’t want the activities of IPOB, it does not mean that we are very happy with the marginalisation of the region in the affairs of our nation.
“But we are saying the way IPOB is going about to address the matter is not right. The right way is what Ohanaeze Ndigbo did. We call on the government to address the issue of marginalisation. We believe in one Nigeria founded in equity.”
