From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has debunked rumours that it declared a five-day sit-at-home in the South East.
Spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful, in a statement, yesterday, claimed the originators of the rumours were enemies of Igbo who want to make the agitation for an independent state of Biafra unattractive.
He said IPOB leadership has never authorised anyone to issue orders of such magnitude in Biafraland and assured that ESN operatives and IPOB volunteers would be out on those dates protect people of the region and the markets.
He urged people of the region wishing to vote in next year’s polls to go out and collect their PVCs as IPOB has no business with Nigeria and its electoral processes.
Said Powerful: “We wish to state unequivocally to the people of Biafra, friends of Biafra, and lovers of Biafra freedom that IPOB leadership did not issue any sit-at-home order on 9th,10th, 11th, 12th, 13th or 14th of December 2022. IPOB never issued any sit-at-home order on these days mentioned above because we are not miscreants, senseless, or jobless people. Every Biafran, and residents in Biafra land, should ignore such order from untrained and brainless individuals whose agenda is to make Biafra agitation unattractive to our people. Every Biafran must go to their normal business on those days. IPOB which is concerned about our people cannot issue such brainless uncaring five-day consecutive sit-at-home order to suffer our people during this critical time of the year when people are trying to makeup in their businesses for the year.
“The conception of consecutive five-day sit at home by a Nigeria agent and his sponsors is to show the level of wickedness and hatred they have against our people. Their agenda is to create insecurity and unnecessary hardships to make our people jettison Biafra freedom. How wicked. Again, every one has his or her rights to go and collect his or her PVC from their pooling and registration centre without molestations. IPOB never boycott election and has nothing to do with Nigeria shambolic elections.
“Our people should be prepared and ready to confront any fool who dares to enforce such wicked sit-at-home. More-so, ESN operatives and IPOB volunteers will be out on these dates to protect our people and the markets. Biafran youths should also be ready to confront anybody who comes to force them to close their businesses on these days.”