IPOB’s sit-at-home order not in our interest, Igbo group tells southeasterners

A South East group under the aegis of Igbo Youth Assembly Worldwide has asked Ndigbo to ignore the sit-at-home order by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The group said that the call is not for the best interest of the country, adding that it will only help to fuel hatred and threaten national unity.

IPOB had recently ordered people of South-East and neighbouring states as well as Nigerians who believe in their struggle to observe a sit-at-home on May 30. It said the order is to honour its men who died in the Nigeria-Biafra war from 1967 to 1970.

Despite several police warnings to the group not to go ahead with the planned action, some members of the IPOB were said to be making brisk appearance along some streets in Onitsha, Anambra State in preparation of the sit-at-home order.

But in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, the president of the Igbo Youth Assembly, Mazi Ifeanyi Nwudunna said:

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has set aside a date where all the heroes of our land who lost their lives in the course of service to their fatherland to be honoured and it encompasses every tribe and state in Nigeria.

“Therefore, it is not in the best interest of national unity, peace, progress, and national integration for any group or person to fuel misinformation by ordering ‘Sit at Home’ on every 30th May.

“Through this illegal and outlawed group’s activities, Ndigbo have lost several billions of naira. Ndi Igbo are the owners of most businesses and establishments outside Igboland and instead of promoting and propagating national integration and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians, misguided groups and elements are trying to isolate Ndigbo from national engagements.

“When the acclaimed Igbo leader, Chief Chukwumeka Odimegwu Ojukwu returned from exile after the Nigerian Civil War, he joined a political party called National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

“At the time, he said the reason for joining NPN was to return Ndi Igbo to national politics.

“Now, misguided leaders and haters of Ndi Igbo are trying to isolate the Ndigbo from national politics, engagements and participation in the guise of championing the cause of Ndigbo.”

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He further cautioned Ndigbo to understand that observing the IPOB order will “blight the future of our children and unborn children”.

Nwudunna added, “IPOB is still a proscribed group and all its activities remain illegal and unlawful. Igbo Youth Assembly Worldwide is urging Ndigbo and other Nigerians not to stay indoors on May 30.”

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