Leaders in the South East region of Nigeria on Saturday expressed their displeasure with the Monday sit-at-home exercise observed in the southeast region purportedly on grounds of the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement obtained by POLITICS NIGERIA, the southeast leaders lamented the negative impact of the sit-at-home on the economy of the southeast region.
The statement was signed by Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council; His Grace, Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province; Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Secretary to the Anambra State Government; and Igwe Laurence Agubuzu, Chairman, Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council.
“It is beyond doubt that the sit-at-home exercise has done incalculable damage to the economy of Anambra State and indeed the Southeast. We are losing the most productive day of the week as intra-, inter-state and even international business activity are severely constrained, and slowly forcing the diversion of economic activity to other commercial centres outside Alaigbo,” the statement reads in part.
“It is therefore abundantly clear to all that the Monday- sit-at-home is ill advised and counter-productive. All over the world, it is our inalienable right to make demands, make our voices to be heard, make agitations against perceived injustice and the reality of marginalisation. It is however totally unacceptable to stop our children from going to school, to destroy our means of livelihoods, to kill, maim or recklessly destroy properties of the so-called potential beneficiaries of the struggle, to make our economies unattractive to investors, and to create an environment in which our youths have little hope of realizing their legitimate dreams and aspirations for jobs and wealth creation.
“We have taken cognizance of the August 24, 2021 announcement by members of IPOB of the suspension of the sit-at-home, and subsequent repeat announcements arising from the continued enforcement through killings, abductions, beating and burning of properties of innocent citizens.”
