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An Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide, has condemned the sit-at-home-order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra for October 1.
The day is set aside for Nigeria’s independence anniversary.
The Indigenous People of Biafra had declared October 1 a sit-at-home day, stating that the decision was to avert possible mass killing of the people of the area who might gather to celebrate Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day, as well as a mark for support for those calling for Oduduwa Republic.
The Publicity Secretary of the John Nwodo-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Uche Okpaga, backed the IPOB’s order.
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But in a statement by its President General, Basil Onuorah, on Sunday in Awka, Anambra State, the ONGAW called on members of the public to ignore the sit-at-home order.
The Corporate Affairs Commission had withdrawn the registration of Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide shortly after its registration, apparently because of its name conflict with the Chief Nnia Nwodo-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
In the statement on Sunday, ONGAW described the sit-at-home order on a day the country would be marking her independence anniversary as an insult to the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and others who achieved the country’s freedom in 1960.
The statement read in part, “A call for sit-at-home on Nigeria’s Independence Day (October 1st) in the South-East zone of the country is an aberration and insult to Igbo heroes who fought for Nigeria’s independence with all their might.
“The efforts of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and all our heroes past can never be in vain. Ndigbo in Nigeria and the diaspora are hereby enjoined to ignore any purported order for sit-at-home on October 1st 2020.
“The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide states firmly that the organisation is not in support of the October 1st sit-at-home order.
“Any publication or gathering in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo anywhere in Nigeria or abroad without the due approval or recognition by the current National Executive of ONGAW amounts to impersonation and such conveners will be decisively dealt with. All Security agencies are hereby informed to please take note.”
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