Nnamani: IPOB’s Sit-at-home Order against Igbo Interest

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa,
Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, has flayed the sit-at-home order by the proscribed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) on the South-eastern zone of the country.
Nnamani, in a release on Sunday, took stock of the implications and socio-economic consequences of the sit-at-home in the South-east zone and called for an immediate stop to it.
The former governor of Enugu State, who represents Enugu East Senatorial District in the Ninth Senate, frowned upon the continuous sit-at-home that has brought the economy and social life in the South-east to its knees.
He also condemned the attack on citizens going about their legitimate businesses on account of the sit-at-home.
According to him, the trinity of Igbo character is defined by igba mbo (hustle), akonuche (cot of wisdom) and njepu (sojourn), pointing out that the sit-at-home is antithetical to the innate Igbo tripartite traits and a betrayal of Igbo interest.
Nnamani therefore canvassed for the discontinuance of the sit-at-home as a result of the continuous damage to the economy and psyche of the Igbo people.
He said: “Most of our people live on daily income. Think of the market women who depend on daily earnings to feed their families. Think of students writing external examinations being denied access to the venues.
“How does enslaving our people, denial of means of livelihood add value to our quest for equity and justice? If others reject us, should we also reject ourselves?
“It stands to reason that this sit-at-home cannot be a way forward. We cannot abandon ourselves. In our struggle for equity and justice in the Nigerian federation, we cannot inadvertently inflict more injuries on ourselves by this sit-at-home. Let wise counsel prevail.”
Nnamani also called on all men and women of goodwill to prevail on the protagonists of sit-at-home to restore normalcy in the South-east zone.
He expressed his opposition to any agitation through violent approaches, saying that with tenacity of purpose and determination, the quest for equity and justice would be realized.
Deji Elumoye, Thisday