- Safiu Kehinde
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has formally declared the cancellation of the sit-at-home order across the southeast.
This is contained in a statement issued by the IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful.
According to the statement, Kanu ordered that the people should return to schools, workplaces, and markets without fear or intimidation.
Powerful warned that any attempt to enforce the sit-at-home from this point forward would be considered opposition to Kanu’s orders and the Biafran cause.
“All markets, schools, offices, transport services, and economic activities must resume fully and normally from tomorrow. The era of Monday sit-at-home is over,” the statement read.
IPOB also warned of possible false-flag operations or intimidation attempts by opponents and urged citizens to remain vigilant, calm, and law-abiding.
Meanwhile, the group further clarified that no state governor has the authority to threaten or forcibly shut down the businesses of traders who may choose to observe personal discretion.
They stressed that any market renovations or relocations must involve stakeholder consent and provision of temporary trading sites before work begins.
The development is coming weeks after the one-week shut down of Onitsha Main Market by the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo.
NPO Reported that Soludo had declared the shutdown of the market following an unannounced visit where he discovered that most of the shops in the market were closed in observation of the sit-at-home despite government’s directive declaring an end to the order.
The governor’s closure of the market had sparked mixed reactions with some commending the action while others, especially the traders, condemned the closure, staging a protest to the effect.