Biafra: Group tells Igbo to disregard sit-at-home order

A group known as The Igbo for Nigeria Movement (INM) has advised residents of the south-eastern part of the country to disregard the May 30 sit-at-home order of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

The pro-Biafra groups gave the directive in honour of the “fallen heroes” of the civil war.

But INM, which described the order as a journey to self-destruction, said the mistakes which led to the civil war should be “avoided at all cost”.

“Our people, Ndi Igbo, embittered by the glaring inequalities in the running of the country, especially the mindless slaughter of Igbo with the passive and active endorsement of the government of that time precipitated the decision by our people to secede from Nigeria and pursue our future separate from a group of people that had treated us unfairly,” Igwe Ifeanyi, national leader of the group, said in a statement.

“Let us quickly point out here that we are by no means implying that all is well in terms of fiscal federalism. Like other ethnic nationalities and geo-political zones, we desire greater self determination; we will like to move at an economic pace that is more consistent with our exceptional enterprising spirit.

“Like others, we want the liberty to control the resources produced in our homeland and deploy same to develop our states at a pace that is consistent with our aspirations. These are goals that we have diligently pursued through non-violent means and intellectual agitation.

“Unfortunately, these efforts have been greatly undermined by the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and other configurations.

“Igbo all over the country should go about their business and not listen to any sit-at-home order.

“Igbo must recognise the imperative of not exposing our flanks to the other ethnic nationalities whose own people can cash in on the closure of Igbo businesses to take over our clientele when we open the way for people to feel frustrated.”

Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, had earlier told pro-Biafra groups not to force anyone to sit at home.