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President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has condemned the incessant calls for sit-at- home in the Southeast by Finland-based separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa.
Iwuanyanwu, who described the action as disheartening in a statement on Tuesday, said Southeast loses trillions every sit-at-home day.
He noted that non-state actors, in attempt to enforce the order, had unleased mayhem on the people.
“It is indeed very disheartening that the people of Southeast of Nigeria are being subjected to hardships by the incessant call for sit at home.
“Unfortunately several non-state actors in an attempt to enforce the order have unleashed mayhem on the people. As a result, several people have been killed, maimed and properties worth of millions of Naira have been destroyed.
“In addition, the sit at home order has been instilling fears and trepidation on the good people of the Southeast, making it difficult for people to come out to transact their lawful businesses on the sit at home days,” he said.
He noted that Southeast is noted for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises, indigenous manufacturing, fabrication and agro-allied industries, adding that”several authorities have put the losses encountered by the people of Southeast at trillions of Naira on each sit-at-home day.”
According to him, Southeast has witnessed loss of clients and customers who find alternatives because of the unstable business environment in the region.
“The food transporters to the Southeast charge more for a trip to the Southeast because of Ekpa and his gang. Furthermore, the insecurity and unknown gun-men have been on the increase because of the sit at home. Worst still, over 250 persons are estimated to have lost their lives through the enforcement of the sit at home.
“It is very disturbing that at a time the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is engaging the Igbo entrepreneurs all over the world, on a think-home philosophy, a foreign based Igbo is bent on destabilizing the home front.”
“This is unacceptable and must not be allowed to succeed in Igboland, ” he said
He called on youths in Igboland to show maturity and understanding because the incessant sit-at-home “is an ill wind that blows nobody any good. It is self-evident that the series of sit at home is affecting the social and economic life of the Igbo and not to the advantage of the Igbo youth.”
Peoplesmind
