Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has lamented that the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is gradually crippling and destroying the economic development in the South-East region.
Umahi, who is the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, stated this on Sunday while addressing members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the ecumenical centre, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
KanyiDaily recalls that IPOB had issued a sit-at-home order in the South-East every Monday as part of its ways of protesting the detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. by the federal government.
The proscribed group said that the lockdown tagged ‘Ghost Monday’ will also affect all schools, marketplaces, and other economic activities in the region.
Nnamdi Kanu had since suspended the sit-at-home directive, but Southeast residents have continued to observe the order every Monday due to fears of being attacked by IPOB members.
IPOB Sit-At-Home Order Devilish, Foolish – Umahi
Speaking about the development on Sunday, Governor Umahi vowed that his five colleagues in the South-East region will fight against the IPOB sit-at-home order, describing the directive as devilish and foolish.
He ordered the confiscation of shops owned by traders who will not open up for businesses tomorrow Monday, and an immediate sack of civil servants who fail to come to work.
“Any trader that does not open up their shops for businesses will be taken over by the government. South east region is gradually being destroyed by IPOB sit-at-home. We have to fight it. We have to say no to that.
“You have to listen to me. A lot of federal agencies have placed Ebonyi state on red alert. I Give you an example, it took me going to Abuja to convince the aviation industry to do some approval to our airport.
“Southeast is under red alert as a result of IPOB sit-at-home and it is out of foolishness.
“Many civil servants did not go to work, we decided not to pay them, but the spirit of God prevailed and we forgave everybody. But tomorrow’s own, anybody that fails to go to work, will definitely seize to be a civil servant in Ebonyi.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Governor Umahi had revealed that the people of South-East obey the IPOB sit-at-home order not because of obedience, but due to fear of being attacked.
