The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, has asked those behind the Monday sit-at-home in the southeast region to stop the exercise in the interest of the economic wellbeing of the people.
Kanu disclosed this through his lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) in a video clip.
He claimed that he does not believe in the sit-at-home, insisting he could not be fighting for his people and at the same time shutting down their economy.
He cited the effect of the sit-at-home exercise on the social, economic, cultural, and political life of the people, lamenting that it has put the Igbo under psychological, physical and mental torture.
“I am now re-echoing again and again what Nnamdi Kanu told me, ”He does not believe in that sit-at-home on Mondays,” which cripples the social, economic, cultural, and political life of the people, putting them under psychological physical, and mental torture,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government, on Monday, July 24, 2023, announced that all the shops and businesses sealed for not opening on Monday would remain closed for one week.
The State Government on Monday, made real its threat to seal any business outfit that complied with the regular Monday sit-at-home.
At least 106 shops and two banks were closed for allegedly adhering to the sit-at-home order initiated by the Finland-based Simon Ekpa, the factional leader of the POB.
The shops and banks were closed by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA).
The closure was in tandem with the instruction issued by Governor Peter Mbah last week, which noted that sanctions would be placed on anyone or entity who chose to adhere to the sit-at-home order.
Governor Mbah had described it as illegal and said it would be treated with the utmost penalty deserving of the violators.
In a statement signed by Professor Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the State Government, the government said the affected shops would not be considered for re-opening until the owners produced tax clearance certificates and other relevant documents.
Onyi said, “The Enugu State Government wishes to commend civil society organisations and residents that took ownership of the government’s ban on illegal sit-at-home orders by embarking on peaceful demonstrations in the capital city yesterday. Government commends the participants for their peaceful conduct throughout the demonstrations.
“In previous announcements to the good people and residents of Enugu State, the government had directed business and shop owners to open for normal businesses on Mondays and every work day, or have the defaulting business premises and shops sealed. That was exactly what the government did on Monday, July 24, 2023, to enforce its earlier directives.
“All businesses that were sealed shall remain sealed for one week, at the end of which they shall provide their current tax clearance certificates and all other relevant revenue documents to enable the state government to review and consider their formal letters for re-opening.
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