- Ohanaeze President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, condemns the sit-at-home protests and urges people to ignore them
- Chief Iwuanyanwu warns South-East security operatives to exercise prudence to avoid further loss of innocent lives in Igbo-land
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has extended an invitation to self-acclaimed Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, and his group for a dialogue in response to the ongoing sit-at-home protests. These protests are in opposition to the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President General of Ohanaeze, made the announcement in a statement issued on Monday. He strongly condemned the persistent calls for sit-at-home protests and urged people to disregard them.
Chief Iwuanyanwu also cautioned all security operatives in the South-East to exercise utmost prudence in their official duties to prevent further loss of innocent lives in the Igbo-land.
The Ohanaeze President General expressed deep sympathy for the families who have lost loved ones and properties during these unfortunate events. He called for the cooperation of all stakeholders in order to address the grievances effectively.
He said, “It is indeed very disheartening that the people of South East of Nigeria are being subjected to hardships by the incessant call for sit-at-home. Unfortunately several non-state actors in an attempt to enforce the order have unleashed mayhem on the people. As a result, several people have been killed, and maimed and properties worth millions of Naira have been destroyed. In addition, the sit-at-home order has been instilling fears and trepidation in the good people of the South East, making it difficult for people to come out to transact their lawful businesses on the sit-at-home days.
“The South-East is noted for micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises, indigenous manufacturing, fabrication, and agro-allied industries. To this end, several authorities have put the losses encountered by the people of South East at trillions of Naira on each sit-at-home day. The South East has witnessed the loss of clients and customers who find alternatives because of the unstable business environment in the South East.
“The food transporters to the South East charge more for a trip to the South East because of these sit-at-home orders. Furthermore, insecurity and unknown gunmen have been on the increase because of the sit-at-home order. Worst still, over 250 persons are estimated to have lost their lives through the enforcement of the sit-at-home order.
“As a father, I hereby request Mr. Simon Ekpa and his group for a discussion and an opportunity to air their grievances. 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.”
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