The Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra (IPOB) sit-at-home order was partially successful in Abia State as many business men and women opened shops and warehouses in flagrant disobedience to the order.
In Umuahia, the home town of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, markets and business premises were opened without any molestation. Except for government offices and banks which were observing the one day public holiday to mark the 60th Independence anniversary, majority of the shops business areas conducted their businesses unhindered.
However, some tricycles popularly called “Keke” went off the streets in obedience to Kanu’s directive. However, security operatives like the army, police and Department of State Security (DSS) were not seen in the streets, but sources said the police were searching tricycle operators to ascertain any of them that had hoisted the IPOB emblem.
In Aba, the sit-at-home was partially successful as many traders refused to open their shops in obedience to the order. Even though the Ariaria International Market was open, some shops were closed in sympathy with IPOB.
A Keke operator in Aba told our Correspondent that the IPOB members are ready for any eventuality from the federal authority, insisting that the only option left for the government is to grant the Sovereign State Biafra through a referendum.
But a trader in Umuahia, the state capital said the separatist body has been nonviolent, its incessant order to traders not to open their shops is becoming worrisome. :They should other means of conducting the agitation”, he maintained.
Nevertheless, Nnamdi Kanu younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, described the exercise as “very successful”. He explained that various reports he got from across Nigeria showed that Biafrans complied with the order wholly.
A motorist in Umuahia plying intercity bus said he was not sure if the scanty movement of vehicles noticed was as a result of the Independence anniversary holiday or because of the IPOB sit-at-home order, even as he acknowledged that some of his colleagues did not report for duty yesterday.
However, the younger asked journalists to be patience as according to him, the group would issue a statement on the issue later in the day. Meanwhile as the time of filing the report, the press statement is being awaited.
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Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000; He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
