On Sunday, the Enugu State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the Igbo apex socio-cultural organization, announced the termination of the sit-at-home protest in the South-East region, with a particular focus on Enugu State.
The Igbo socio-cultural group expressed its full support for the Enugu State Government’s efforts to bring an end to the sit-at-home protest, stating that the protest had lost its relevance and usefulness.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been divided into factions, and one faction led by Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator who proclaimed himself as the Biafran Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, has been enforcing a Monday sit-at-home.
In contrast, the main IPOB group, led by Chika Edoziem, had already canceled the sit-at-home directive.
The factional group had been using the sit-at-home protest as a means to demand the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since June 2021.
Ohanaeze, in a statement signed by its Enugu President, Professor Fred Eze, commended the state governor, Peter Mbah, for taking a courageous step in bringing an end to the sit-at-home in Enugu State.
Ohanaeze recalled that before the cancellation by the government, Enugu State was overwhelmed by a climate of fear such that people could not go about their normal business with confidence.
“In Enugu State, every Monday became an unofficial holiday as businesses and other social activities usually came to a halt.
“Thus, the continued observance of the sit-at-home order had a significant negative impact on the economy of Enugu State. Businesses were rapidly closing down while others were relocating away from the state leading to the loss of foreign direct investment and massive capital flight.
“Thus, the action by the Enugu State Government could not have come at a better time. That Governor Peter Mbah also called for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu; and has triggered steps to get the Federal Government to release Kanu are indicative that the governor understands the core issues at stake
“The sit-at-home order is self-immolating and has disrupted all productive assets and resources in the state since its introduction and enforcement.
“Ohanaeze Enugu State chapter expresses happiness that the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has himself categorically ordered the cessation of any form of sit-at-home in whatever guise in the South-East Nigeria,” he said.
The group therefore applauded the “life-saving order by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu because the sit-at-home is counterproductive as it does incalculable harm to the people IPOB is fighting for.”
Ohanaeze appealed to parents, guardians, youths, and the general public to join hands with Mbah and his administration in ensuring that sit-at-home was put to a permanent end in the state.
