Uche Onyema, Owerri
Ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Imo State on Tuesday, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared same day a sit-at-home in the South-East in solidarity to its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who would be appearing in court.
Spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful, in a statement has directed that there would be a total lockdown, warning schools, banks and other business premises to be shut down.
Powerful said: “The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra under the command and leadership of our indefatigable liberator Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu wish to announce to the general public especially Biafrans that Tuesday 13th of September has been declared a day of civil action in the form of Sit-At-Home in Biafra land.
Explaining on the importance of the sit-at-home, Powerful said, “the Tuesday 13th September, 2022, civil action is very important for two reasons:
“First, Our Leader’s Appeal court hearing that was supposed to be on October 11th has been brought forward to 13th September, 2022. As usual we call on Biafrans and lovers of freedom to demonstrate our solidarity with our leader who is bearing our yoke in detention for over a year now.
“IPOB never issued a new directive to Biafrans, but is simply implementing an existing order to lock down Biafraland any day the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra will appear in court at Abuja.
“There shall be a total lockdown of the whole of Biafraland on Tuesday the 13th of September 2022. Buhari cannot be coming to Imo State while he continues to detain our leader Mazi Nnamdi in the DSS custody.
“We therefore, expect all markets, schools, banks, businesses and companies including police stations in Biafraland to be under lock and key next week Tuesday, September 13th, 2022, in solidarity with our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB members are peaceful. We don’t enforce sit-at-home, nevertheless we wouldn’t tolerate people flouting IPOB leadership’s directives. Therefore, everyone in Biafran territory must adhere to this civil action in the form of sit-at-home on Tuesday 13th September 2022. Biafrans are not known to be cowards because we stand without fear before our enemies,” Powerful stated.
