By Charles Igbo
For the South-east, the down-turn of its economy, and the frustration of its people, a consequence of the forced sit-at-home order imposed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB is not about to abate.
In spite of the declaration, a number of times, by IPOB’s Directorate of Services, DOS, which has been running the affairs of the organization since Kanu’s incarceration, that the imposed sit-at-home order has been canceled, and inspite of the appeal and decision of the Igbo leadership to do away with it, Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed disciple of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, insists it continues. He said it must be strictly adhered to, and has dared anybody not to obey it on April 11.
In a post on Sunday, April 10, directing its strict observance, Ekpa wrote: “The sit at home civil disobedience for the unconditional release of MNK and Biafra freedom continues tomorrow ( today) being Monday and Biafraland will be under lock and key! WE MOVE!”
Last Monday, the order was partially observed in some States and strictly observed in others.
In Anambra State where Governor Chukwuma Soludo offered amnesty to non-state actors carrying guns, the State had marked the end of the sit-at-home era with prayers. Prior to that, Igbo leaders, including Clerics and Traditional Rulers, had converged in Awka, Anambra State, where after a summit on insecurity, issued a communique one of which was the total cancelation of the sit-at-home era.
Simon Ekpa had since fallen out with the mainstream IPOB. He is, allegedly, leading a more militant and aggressive group which acts the opposite of whatever IPOB’s DOS says.
A couple of weeks ago, IPOB, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, held Ekpa and his group called Autopilot responsible for the current violence in parts of the South-east and described them as criminals.
Ekpa lives, not in Nigeria, but Finland from where he issues orders.
