APPARENT scepticism greeted the cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home order in the South-East by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as many residents and businesses failed to resume in accordance with the directive.
However, the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, declared that only the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu will restore full normalcy to Mondays across the region.
In a statement on Sunday, IPOB was quoted as saying it had officially cancelled the Monday sit-at-home, which began five years ago, calling on residents of the region to fully resume their Monday activities from this week.
Powerful, who signed the statement for the directive, stated that it was from the detained leader of the group, Kanu, who was sentenced to life last year over terrorism charges. He is detained in a correctional facility in Sokoto State.
Yesterday, while those who had always opened for businesses continued to do so, those who had never opened on Monday remained indoors.
Investigation by The Guardian showed that schools, offices and markets in Aba, Abia State, remained under lock and key as residents ignored the directive.
It was gathered that although the gates of Ariaria and Ahia Ohuru markets in Aba were wide open as usual, traders and buyers were nowhere to be seen.
Federal Government workers, who have not reported for duty since the Monday sit-at-home began in August 2021, continued to shun offices. Also, motor parks that have never operated did not heed the directive throughout the South-East region.
A businessman in Ahia Ohuru, Uchenna Eze, disclosed that it would take more than a directive to end the Monday sit-at-home order in Aba.
“We are content with doing our business between Tuesday and Saturday.”
Nobody can force us to open because the person did not open the business for us.
“As I speak with you, we don’t go to school, banks are not operating, and offices are under lock and key. But there are street markets that are fully operational, as the big markets are not operational,” he said.
A school owner, Ikedieze Ohabughiro, told The Guardian that he was not aware of the directive, stressing: “Even if it is true, it will take Nnamdi Kanu walking on the streets of Aba for the people to open their businesses.”
A book dealer at the Ogbete market in Enugu, Vincent Eke, told The Guardian: “Before now, I was operating on Mondays. I was shocked to receive a call from an unknown number, warning that I had continued to defy their orders. The caller went as far as mentioning the number of children I have, the name of my wife, my residential address and the kind of business that I do. He warned that getting me was as easy as anything. He said if I continue to defy their orders, whatever I see I should take. I remember reporting that incident to the leadership of the market here, who advised me to be careful, as most traders were receiving such calls and that those behind it were not joking. So I made the decision not to open on Monday.”
His position is similar to that of Collins Igwebuike, who insisted that insecurity had continued to keep them at home on Monday.
Executive Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Ibuchukwu Ezike, said residents had continued to comply with the situation because they “internalised the spirit and respect it without force”.
To change the narrative, Ezike said governments in the region must prove to be trustworthy, adding that Kanu remained the issue and nothing more.
Meanwhile, Powerful observed yesterday that parts of Igboland remained under voluntary lockdown in solidarity with Kanu, despite the directive. Also, those who spoke to journalists were clear in their position: only the unconditional release of Kanu will restore full normalcy to Mondays across the region.
“For the avoidance of doubt, IPOB, through the authoritative proclamation of Kanu, over the weekend, categorically ended the enforcement of Monday sit-at-home. This Monday observance is, therefore, a voluntary civic decision by free people. Biafrans are not slaves; they are free citizens who can decide what to do with their Mondays.
“As democrats rooted in irreducible republican tenets, the position of IPOB remains consistent: let the people decide. Nobody can force our people not to do what they feel is their God-given right to do.”
According to him, nobody is enforcing sit-at-home, and nobody will be molested for exercising their lawful right to civil disobedience.
“Freedom is a choice. The people have spoken,” Powerful stated.
Guardian newspaper
