Most markets, banks and schools in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, including those in the rural areas, were closed and the roads were totally deserted in the early hours of the morning as a result of the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of the defunct Republic of Biafra and honour heroes and heroines of the struggle, yesterday.
Outside the S-East, the directive was partly complied with in Port Harcourt, Asaba and Bayelsa but ignored in Uyo. The order was also, largely complied with in Enugu, as schools, banks, markets and other commercial activities were paralysed, with police helicopters hovering around Enugu metropolis. The shutdown of the states was in spite of the plea by South-East governors and massive police and security presence, who patrolled streets and carried out air surveillance with helicopters to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order. Meanwhile, IPOB and MASSOB have congratulated Ndigbo worldwide for showing total compliance with the sit-at-home order. IPOB, in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr Emma Powerful, said the compliance with the sit-at-home directive was an indication that Ndigbo all over the world were tired of the Nigerian federation and ready to leave the country. His words: “Our Supreme Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu issued this order of sit-at-home when he was still in Kuje Prisons, Abuja and it has come to pass. All the people of Biafra both at home and abroad complied in totality without any compulsion, which has not happened in the history of the Biafran struggle. Biafra is here “We are also telling those saboteurs who were paid by the government of Nigeria to sabotage the restoration project that this is the beginning of what will happen to them and their paymasters. When we finally leave Nigeria, they will be left behind.
Biafrans and IPOB members worldwide have obeyed Mazi Kanu. We, IPOB, must be strong and we promise everybody that Biafra is here. “However, Biafrans have proven to the entire world that they need freedom and the world must know that we are not going back in the quest for independence of Biafra. “The sit-at-home-order was a success and all the markets, schools, banks, companies/industries, transport companies, businesses in Biafraland closed in total compliance and we are saying that God Almighty (Chukwu Okike Abiama) bless all of you. “We also thank all our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora for their total compliance and on the march in the streets of Taiwan, Chad, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA, Russia, Ukraine, Angola, Congo DRC, Mozambique, Luxembourg, Brazil, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts, Canada, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Sweden and France. “We also thank those in Germany, Austria, Finland, South Africa, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Benin Republic, Gabon, Cape Verde, Madagascar, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, “Those in Scotland, Holland, Belgium, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Greece, Pakistan, India, Canada Trinidad and Tobago, Isreal, Argentina, Bokinafaso, Tanzania, Sao tome and Principe, Australia, Japan, North and South Korea, Niger Republic, Tunisia- Algeria, Cape Verde and many more where Biafrans observed the order are not left out in our show of gratitude and prayers. “We also thank all the markets and business outfits in Biafra land for obeying the order and congratulate them for identifying with us in the Biafra restoration struggle; we equally thank all the foreign media that covered the event.”
Also, Leader of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu, in a statement at midday congratulated those who complied with the order which he described as a huge success. Madu said: “The huge success achieved on today’s sit-at-home exercise is marvellous and glorious because Almighty God divinely approved our programme of commemorating the golden jubilee celebration of declaration of Biafra by late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. “The honour and pride go to the people of Biafra. The success achieved today is not a selfish pride for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB or Comrade Uchenna Madu-led MASSOB or any other group. It is an honour to the people of Biafra, it is an honour to the gallant and eloquent soldiers of Biafra and civilians that bravely laid down their lives for establishment of Republic of Biafra. It is an honour for Biafran school children, an honour to commercial cyclists, tricycles, buses and other vehicle operators. “It is an honour to the firms/establishments that complied with the sit-at-home order. “The huge success is an express evidence that the coming Biafra referendum shall be a walk over against Nigeria. The success is also a direct confirmation that light and darkness can never walk together.”
Total shutdown in S-East as Biafra marks 50th anniversary
