Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has formally put an end to all sit-at-home exercises in the South-East region.
The announcement came through a handwritten letter, which was read out to journalists during a world press conference held in Enugu State on Friday by his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.
In the letter dated July 24, 2023, Kanu addressed the refusal of Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed disciple, to announce the cancellation and further declaration through his media platforms.
Kanu issued a stern warning to Ekpa to refrain from calling for any sit-at-home henceforth and demanded a public announcement acknowledging receipt of a direct order from him to cancel any pending sit-at-home orders.
The full statement, as reproduced by Barrister Ejimakor, reads as follows:
“Simon, this is a direct order from me. I hereby instruct you to desist from calling for any Sit-at-Home henceforth.
Equally, refrain from antagonizing Governors or persons in political positions because you are not in a position to know what they are doing on my behalf.
I am ordering you to make a public announcement to the effect that you are in receipt of a direct order from me to cancel any pending Sit-at-Home in place at the moment.
I embarked on this movement to liberate our people, not to enslave them.
I despise and will despise any person or entity that wishes to inflict unnecessary hardship on our people. I have authorized Aloy to issue a press statement if you fail to make this announcement on your platform.”
Kanu further expressed his displeasure with those who continued to enforce the Sit-at-Home order, asserting that they were not his disciples.
He condemned the violence and harm being inflicted on innocent people under the pretext of enforcing the order and emphasized that his aim was to protect and defend his people, not to cause them suffering.
The IPOB leader also pointed out the urgent need to address the delays in hearing the government appeal at the Supreme Court, stressing that Sit-at-Home actions would not address this issue effectively.
Kanu referred to his younger brother’s press statement, which had made it clear that he was against the Sit-at-Home order from the beginning, leading to a rift within the IPOB family.
In closing, Kanu instructed Ejimakor to use the information provided in the letter as the main body of the press statement, shedding light on the origins of the Sit-at-Home controversy.
He emphasized the importance of sharing the handwritten note as a screenshot and requested that the press statement be released promptly the following day.
As of now, with Kanu’s direct order and the statement from his counsel, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and how the supporters and members of IPOB will respond to this new development.
