Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo social-cultural organization has called for negotiations with Simon Ekpa a self-styled Biafra agitator as well as his group over the crisis in the South-East.
You would recall that Simon Ekpa had issued a two weeks sit-at-home order in the southeast, raising anxiety and fear in the region.
In a swift response, Governors of the South East had convened a meeting with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribaadu to discuss the concerns of the region, to see how the federal government can be of assistance to the people of the south-east.
Leading a delegation of Southeast governors to the meeting with the NSA was Governor Alex Otti of Abia State who also amplified the concerns of the people in Abia State and the Southeast in general. Governor Otti noted that only a handful of people were benefitting from the sit-at-home order, using the instrument of fear to intimidate the people, and as such, the government cannot sit and watch them succeed.
“Governments all over the world cannot be threatened and we need to sound that note of warning.
“You cannot afford to sit at home when you have work to do. A lot of people live on a daily basis; the taxi drivers, the keke drivers, the woman that is selling pepper in the market, if she sits at home for two weeks, she will die of hunger.
On its part Ohanzeze Ndigbo under the leadership of President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu gave the invitation to Simon Ekpa and his group for a possible dialogue to help cub the worries orchestrated by the incessant sit-at-homes in the region; begging that it should cease.
ENigeria Newspaper reports that Chief Iwuanyanwu, however, warned all security operatives in the South-East to exercise the highest degree of prudence and caution in the discharge of their official duties to avoid further loss of innocent lives in Igbo-land.
The Ohanaeze President General expressed his sympathy with the families who have lost loved ones and properties during these unfortunate events while calling for the cooperation of all and sundry to address all the grievances.
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.”
“It is evident that the series of sit-at-home orders is affecting the social and economic life of the Igbos. Surely, it is not to the advantage of the Igbos. Based on the above backdrop, I, Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide hereby direct that: The sit at home in Igbo-land should be discountenanced. I, therefore urge all the sons and daughters of Igbo-land to go about their lawful businesses.
“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.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has invited a self-acclaimed Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, and his group for discussion amid the sit-at-home protests against the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The Ohanaeze President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, gave the invitation in a statement issued on Monday while condemning the incessant call for sit-at-home begging that it should be discountenanced.
