The Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has agreed to engage in talks with Simon Ekpa, the acclaimed prime minister of Biafra Government in Exile, and his group, to address the recurring sit-at-home orders in Southeast.
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, conveyed this decision through a statement released to the press in Owerri, Imo State’s capital.
According to him, “As a father, I hereby request Mr Simon Ekpa and his group for a discussion and an opportunity to air their grievances.”
He expressed deep concern about the continuous sit-at-home mandates inflicting hardships on the people of Southeast Nigeria.
Iwuanyanwu pointed out that the enforcement of these orders by various non-state actors has resulted in violence, leading to loss of lives, injuries, and extensive damage to properties worth millions of naira.
His words, “The sit-at-home order has been instilling fears and trepidation in the good people of the Southeast, making it difficult for people to come out to transact their lawful businesses.
“The Southeast is noted for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises, indigenous manufacturing, fabrication and agro-allied industries. Authorities have put the losses encountered by the people of Southeast at trillions of naira on each sit-at-home day.”
Iwuanyawu disclosed that the Southeast region has experienced a decline in clients and customers seeking alternatives due to the unstable business environment caused by the sit-at-home orders.
He also pointed out that food transporters charge higher rates for trips to the region because of these orders. Additionally, he emphasized the escalating insecurity and actions of unknown gunmen, which have led to the loss of over 250 lives as a consequence of enforcing the sit-at-home mandates.
On the fresh two weeks sit-at-home declared by Ekpa, Iwuanyawu said, “This is unacceptable and must not be allowed to succeed in Igboland.”
He recalled that IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, through his special counsel, Barr Aloy Ejimakor, last Friday cancelled sit-at-home with an order to Ekpa to desist from declaring further sit-at-home.
“Kanu, on whose behalf Ekpa claims to be working, has directed the said Simon Ekpa ‘to end all sit-at-home in the Southeast and to stop antagonizing the governors of the Southeast and politicians from the region.
“It is disturbing that at a time Ohanaeze is engaging the Igbo entrepreneurs all over the world on a think-home philosophy, a foreign-based Igbo is bent on destabilizing the home front.”
Iwuanyawu said, “The sit-at-home in Igbo-land should be discontinued. I urge the security operatives to exercise the highest degree of prudence in the discharge of their official duties to avoid further loss of innocent lives in Igbo-land.”
He commended the Southeast governors on their efforts to put a stop to the order, and sympathised with “families who have lost loved ones and property during these sad and unfortunate events.”
