Nnamdi Kanu’s brother suspends IPOB sit-at-home order

*No going back on sit-at-home order – IPOB

The planned sit-at-home ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) scheduled for Monday has been suspended following the ongoing National Examination Council (NECO) Exam for junior secondary schools.

Kanunta Kanu, younger brother to the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in a statement, said new date for commencement of the sit-at-home order would be announced later.

The pro Biafra group had ordered for sit-at-home would be observed every Monday throughout Igbo land, starting from August 9 in solidarity with its detained leader.

Kanu said the group arrived at the decision after listening to pleas from well meaning individuals and groups within and outside Biafra land that the order be suspended to allow students from Igbo land participate in the NECO Exam.

He argued that allowing the sit-at-home to go ahead as earlier announced, in the face of the NECO Exam, would amount to assisting enemies of Biafra to inflict more injuries on her children.

“IPOB has listened to pleas from well-meaning individuals and groups within and outside Biafra land that we consider the fate of our children who will be involved in the NECO Exam and based on that, we decided to shift grounds over the sit-at-home order.

“IPOB on its part, having realized the academic deprivation the already marginalized Biafra students who entered for this year’s NECO would suffer, decided to suspend the sit-at-home order to a later date, to allow the students take their exams.

“As a group fighting for the liberation of her people from oppression from her enemies, we realized that it would amount to assisting the said enemies to inflict more harm on our children if we do not suspend the sit-at-home order to allow Biafra students take their exams”.

While making it clear the sit-at-home order has not been cancelled but only suspended for the sake of Biafra students taking this year’s NECO Exam, the statement called on all IPOB global family members and Biafrans at large to await further directives in this regard.

Monday’s sit-At-Home-Order, Sacrosanct – IPOB

But the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) had insisted its Monday’s sit-at-home order across the entire Southeast was sacrosanct.

It’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, in a statement on Sunday, reiterated the lock down which takes effect from Monday, August 9, 2021 would continue until its leader, Nnamdi Kanu was freed.

It said it was constrained to employ the measure despite its economic implications, insisting it could not hesitate to pay any necessary sacrifice to convince the world its leader was not alone in the struggle.

The statement reads: “We the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to remind all Biafrans and friends of Biafran that the Mondays sit-at-home order is sacrosanct.

“The entire Biafra land will be locked down every Monday from 6:00am to 6:00pm beginning from tomorrow, August 9, 2021until our leader, Nnamdi Kanu who was abducted in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria and locked up in DSS dungeon in clear violation of international laws is freed.

“Consequently, there will be no movement throughout Biafra land on Mondays until our leader who is suffering for our freedom is released. This protest is peaceful but firm. Everybody is advised to stay indoors in total compliance.

“All markets, schools, motor parks, airports, and public places in Biafra land should shut down from morning to evening every Monday.

” We understand the economic implications of this measure but we are constrained to take it so that the world will know that our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not alone in the struggle for Biafra autonomy.

“We want his immediate release and our total freedom, and cannot hesitate to pay any sacrifice needed to achieve this including locking down the entire Biafra land on Mondays.

“All residents and visitors in Biafra land are advised to comply with the order. Nobody should go out to avoid any clash or intimidation by the wicked Nigeria security agents.”

Disregard IPOB stay-at-home order- Abia Govt. urges residents

The Abia Government has asked residents of the state to disregard the sit-at-home order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the government’s directive is contained in a statement issued in Umuahia by the Commissioner for Information, Chief Okiyi Kalu.

IPOB on July 30 ordered sit-at-home in the South-East every Monday, until its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is released from the custody of the Department of State Services.

It threatened to shut down economic activities in the region, adding that violators of the order would be visited with violence.

Reacting to the order, Abia government advised “law abiding citizens and visitors to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation”.

Kalu stated that adequate security had been provided to ensure the safety of lives and property in all parts of the state.

He added that it made no economic sense to order traders to sit at home, while they are struggling to fend for their families under COVID-19 and the attendant harsh economy.

He further warned that compelling the children to stay away from schools would be counterproductive and capable of retarding their progress academically.

The commissioner, however, noted that it would not compel anyone wishing to sit at home for any reason whatsoever not to do so.

Kalu pointed out that “as citizens have freedom of movement under the extant Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we wish to strongly advice that nobody should also compel or enforce any sit at home order from any non-state actor”.

He said that “doing so will does not serve any known interests of the people of the state”.

The commissioner stated that government was “actively monitoring the situation with Kanu, who is an indigene of the state, currently undergoing trial at a Federal High Court in Abuja”.

“We remain in touch with his family members, other relevant persons and institutions, and receive regular updates through them on the situation.

“The Abia Government is confident that the judiciary will ensure a free and manifestly fair trial for him and others,” the commissioner further stated.

He admonished residents and visitors “to continue to be law-abiding and avoid any acts that might lead to a breakdown of law and order”.

He further charged parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children and wards to ensure they did not engage in unlawful activities that would put them in harm’s way.

Source: thenationonlineng.net