IPOB SIT-AT-HOME: Why S’E Governors Must Resort To Dialogue
De Erudite Communications and Multimedia Services
Anambra, September 8, 2021.
It’s no longer alien to the populace, the agitations championed by various groups from within and across the southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, seeking self determination.
The dusts raised by the ever unprecedented issues have unswervingly continued to gather momenta, despite several measures adopted by the federal government of Nigeria. Little wonders, these undeterred feelings of dissatisfactions as indicated by the members of these groups can no longer be neglected without iota of doubts.
This is because, the imaginable right of self-determination as enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria has of recent years been put up as the basis upon which the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, draws credence.
Thus, the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kunu through the Radio Biafra London consistently disseminated sensitive information about the eminent secession of the old Eastern region popularly known as the Republic of Biafra, from Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the agitations of the leader of the proscribed group have attracted both home and international criticisms. A lot of people have openly continued to condemn the activities of the IPOB and its strategies, alleging that the leader Mazi Nnamdi Kunu is arrogant and disrespectful in addressing his own tribesmen as well as the elite in the region.
This has consequently, earned him lots of sabotage from his own people, who are either politically active or economically buoyant in Nigeria or across boarders.
Nevertheless, Mazi Nnamdi Kunu has more loyalists and supporters than any political office holder in Nigeria.
This has often manifested in several occasions when he called for a Sit-At-Home demonstration by the South Eastern people geared towards attaining the sovereign state for Biafra. Kanu however, affirmed his position to be for a referendum to be conducted in Nigeria, whereby the people of the states in the old Eastern region would vote for or against the sovereignty of Biafra.
Nonetheless, several steps by the IPOB geared toward restoring peace and cordial relationship in the region have either proven abortive or partially succeeded following questions about the authorization and power behind the group’s orders and strategies. Among some of the steps the IPOB have taken to bring stability in terms of the security of the people are: the formation of the Eastern Security Network ESN, the resort to Sit-At-Home demonstration, as against peaceful protests in the region, etc.
On the other hand, the Southeast governors under the chairmanship of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state in 2017 invited the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kunu for dialogue.
Meanwhile, the meeting which was not brought into conclusion was later rescheduled but was abruptly truncated when the Nigeria military allegedly invaded Kunu’s residence in Umuahia, Abia state. The action was said to had led to lost of lives and properties and eventually forced the sudden disappearance and later re-emergence of the IPOB leader, a year later in Israel.
Today, the IPOB leader is facing extraordinary rendition by the Department of Security Service DSS, of Nigeria, following his arrest in Kenya and repatriation back to Nigeria few months ago.
Consequently, the group via its Counsel of legal team are pursuing the unconditional release of the leader using every legal armour at the ambiance of their disposals. Thus, the IPOB issued an open instruction to its members as well as the residents of the old Eastern region of Nigeria, to from the time of the announcement, start to observe a Sit-At-Home demonstration, a civil right in absolutely love and solidarity with the IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kunu who is under the custody of the DSS.
Thus far, the following consequences of the Sit-At-Home demonstration in the region region are unimaginably regrettable, as regards its heavy negative implications on the economy, education, political system among others in the states in the region.
Moreover, the security of lives and properties of the people in the region have become volatile and difficult to be measured as a result of the spate in insecurity across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
This has succeeded in instilling palpable tensions in people residing in the Southeast of Nigeria. As a result of the records of attacks on travelers, vehicles or goods of people who ply the roads on Mondays of every week, lots of other people from within and across the states in the region do no longer fail to comply with the IPOB Sit-At-Home order.
On the other hand, school children and students no longer attend lessons on the said day, since the commencement of the demonstration as they have been advised to stay at home on Mondays.
This unavoidably, affects the learning of these children and students, thereby altering the school’s calendars for the year.
Politically, the public office holders are seldom hoped on as sources for proactive measures towards handling the situation in the region. Thus, the people have nurtured divided loyalty to accord the governors and the elite in the region.
Resultantly, the politicians no longer have the usual confidence working with the people and holding them responsible and accountable in times like this. Hence, one will begin to imagine the fate of the leaders without the use of the security agencies to drive home different public policies.
To this end, are the urgent need for dialogue between the leaders of the South East geopolitical zone ( The governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Traditional leaders, etc) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s leadership.
No Society can thrive in any aspect amidst violence.
@De Erudite Media.