The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has urged the Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, to desist from harassing and intimidating residents of the state over the sit-at-home order.
Naijaonpoint reports that Southeast states have been observing the sit-at-home protest since the pro-Biafran leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was arrested on June 27, 2021, in Kenya and subsequently deported to Nigeria.
Kanu is currently facing charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and inciting violence through his Radio Biafra, amongst others.
Soludo had last week warned that any trader or business that refuses to open on Mondays would face severe penalties, including sealing shops for up to one month.
However, in a statement on Tuesday, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, insisted that the people observe the sit-at-home because of their deep love for Nnamdi Kanu and are not compelled to engage in the exercise.
He said that even though the exercise had been called off, the Southeast residents still observed it as a sacrifice to register their protest and displeasure at the continued detention of Kanu.
Emma added that the only solution to stop the Monday sit-at-home protests is the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
The statement read, “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,y 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 Southeast 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 Southeast 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.
“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.”