Only Nnamdi Kanu’s release will stop Monday’s sit-at-home in South-East – IPOB
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared that the only solution to stop the Monday sit-at-home protests in Anambra State is the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
This group made this known while calling on the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to stop harassing and intimidating residents of the state over the sit-at-home order.
This followed an earlier order by Soludo banning the observation of the controversial sit-at-home protest in Anambra from Monday, October 14, 2024.
The Governor had threatened to seal off any shop or plaza closed on Monday in adherence to the sit-at-home order.
“From now on, every Monday, the main market must be open for business. If you fail to open, your shop will be sealed for one week, and if necessary, for up to one month.
”When you are ready to open, it must be from Monday through Saturday,” the baffled Governor said, assuring the traders that adequate security measures would be provided to facilitate their protection.
It was gathered that there was tension in the state on Monday as traders were caught between flouting Soludo’s order or being attacked by armed hoodlums enforcing the sit-at-home order.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, claimed that Anambra residents observed the order because of the deep love they have for Kanu.
According to him, even though the exercise had been renounced, the South-East residents continued to observe as a sacrifice to register their protest and displeasure at the continued detention of the pro-Biafran agitator.
“We, the great and noble family of the IPOB under the command of Nnamdi Kanu, wish to inform Governor Chukwuma Soludo not to underestimate the deep affection Biafrans in the 13 contiguous states and especially those in core Igboland and diaspora have for the leader of IPOB.
“Dear Governor, please know that the people staying at home on Mondays are doing so voluntarily not because of any threat from inconsequential individuals or coercive action by any actors. Ask anybody, including those purportedly enforcing the order, they will tell you that the release of Nnamdi Kanu is all they require to stop. Those choosing to sit at home are doing so because of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and nobody else. You cannot stop it by force.
“Biafrans see this act of self-sacrifice on Mondays as the only way to register their protest and displeasure at the unwarranted and continued unlawful detention of Nnamdi Kanu which the South-East governors, of which you are one, is actively aiding and abetting.
“The same people you are asking to abandon their quiet protest on Mondays are the same people you and your fellow governors from the South-East have repeatedly disappointed in your calculated failure to honour your words to visit the Nigerian President to formally request for the release of our leader.”
The statement added, “In fairness to you, you tried to appeal to the controllers of the last regime, but they failed to see reason with you due to their pathological hatred of the Igbo race.”
Anambra residents ignore Soludo’s order about sit-at-home
Kanu was arrested on June 27, 2021, in Kenya and subsequently extradited to Nigeria, where he’s currently facing charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and inciting violence through his Radio Biafra, amongst others.
Meanwhile, contrary to Soludo’s directive, commercial and economic activities were paralysed on Monday across major markets in the commercial cities of Onitsha, Nnewi, Obosi, and Ekwulobia in Anambra State.
There was also a low turnout of traders, as most shops in major markets such as Onitsha Main Market, Ochanja Market, Nkpor Motor Parts Market, Electrical Market, and Mgbuka Market, remained under lock and key.
