The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern warning to Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, urging him to refrain from intimidating residents who voluntarily participate in the Monday sit-at-home exercise. This action, according to IPOB, is the people’s way of protesting the continued detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement released by Emma Powerful, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, the group emphasized that residents in the South-East region, especially in Igboland, are willingly closing their businesses on Mondays as a form of peaceful protest, not out of fear or coercion.
Powerful noted that this voluntary action reflects the deep support for Kanu, who remains unlawfully detained. He further cautioned Soludo against underestimating the strong emotional ties people in the South-East and the diaspora have toward their leader.
“People staying at home on Mondays are doing so voluntarily, not due to threats or enforcement by any actors. If asked, even those allegedly enforcing the order will confirm that the release of Nnamdi Kanu is their only demand,” Powerful stated.
According to the IPOB spokesperson, residents in the region view the Monday sit-at-home as their way of registering their displeasure with Kanu’s ongoing detention. The statement accused Soludo and other South-East governors of failing to act on their promise to visit President Bola Tinubu and formally request Kanu’s release.
“It’s been nearly six months since South-East governors resolved during their meeting in Enugu to visit the presidency for Kanu’s release, yet nothing has happened,” Powerful continued.
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He also pointed out that despite Soludo’s previous efforts to negotiate with the former administration, no progress has been made. Insecurity continues to rise in Anambra, and IPOB believes that Kanu’s release is the key to restoring peace in the region.
Emma Powerful also accused South-East governors of politicizing the sit-at-home protests, claiming that they have failed to recognize the deep-rooted frustration and resentment felt by the people. He went further to allege that some governors are benefiting financially from the ongoing insecurity, particularly through inflated security budgets.
“Some of you are directly benefiting from the chaos and insecurity plaguing the Igbo land, making the situation even worse. The sit-at-home protest is a peaceful expression of the people’s dissatisfaction, and no forceful action can stop it,” he added.
IPOB emphasized that those choosing to sit at home on Mondays are exercising their right to peaceful protest. The group believes that as long as Nnamdi Kanu remains incarcerated, the sit-at-home exercise will continue.
“As long as this injustice persists, the people will use Monday as a day to voice their protest against the unlawful detention of Nnamdi Kanu,” IPOB concluded.
