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The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has raises concerns over the alleged militarisation of Enugu State by Governor Peter Mbah, cautioning against using such measures to quell the sit-at-home directive by Simon Ekpa.
In the view of IPOB, the individuals advising Governor Peter Mbah to resort to excessive force in dealing with the sit-at-home situation are intentionally placing him in a compromising position.
Emma Powerful, the spokesperson for IPOB, expressed strong opposition to the use of security agents for the purpose of intimidating and humiliating the residents of Enugu State, stating that its unacceptable.
According to the statement signed by Emma Powerful, Governor Peter Mbah should concentrate on governing the state rather than allocating resources to suppress the sit-at-home initiative.
The statement reads: ‘In as much as IPOB has suspended Monday’s sit-at-home that has been going on in Biafraland, nevertheless, we condemn the mishandling of the current situation by the Enugu State Governor, Mr. Peter Mbah. The use of security forces to harass, intimidate, and humiliate our people in Enugu State is *not* acceptable.’
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‘Barr. Peter Mbah should have known that he was voted into office for good governance not to waste time chasing shadows and wasting state-scarce resources in quest of stopping the infamous sit-at-home.’
‘The former Governor of Enugu State Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, strategically managed the marauders enforcing sit-at-home without escalating the situation. Within a month of Barr. Mbah’s office as a governor, more than five innocent people have been murdered as a result of carelessness and mismanagement of the situation.’
‘Governor Peter Mbah should know that those advising him to use excessive force to stop the sit-at-home are setting him up against the people. Governor Mbah is just escalating the sit-at-home that is fading out naturally with a show of force. Other states are now going about their normal businesses peacefully? We wonder if he is helping to enforce the sit-at-home with murderous Nigeria Security Agents or creating a quiet environment for Enugu residents to move about their businesses.’
‘We advise Barr. Peter Mbah to follow the trend of things and stop the militarization of Enugu State. Some people will be afraid to go about their normal business with the military siege of the State going by the antecedents of the military who have a penchant for abductions, humiliation, and murder of innocent Biafran civilians.
‘IPOB has stopped Monday sit-at-home, many occasions and series of press releases issued to that regard and the situation is gradually easing, but we are surprised as to why Mbah should be using force to compel Biafrans who are voluntarily observing it in solidarity with Mazi Nnamdi KANU to come out. Most Biafrans are not observing Monday sit-at-home because of Simon Ekpa. Biafran’s solidarity is with Mazi Nnamdi KANU. That’s why our people have ignored Simon Ekpa’s 2 weeks treacherous sit-at-home and have gone about their businesses.’
Earlier on, Governor Peter Mbah’s leadership in Enugu State has taken a strong stand against Simon Ekpa’s sit-at-home order, instructing residents to ignore it to avoid the consequences of losing their licenses to operate within the state
The government resorted to sealing several shops for non-compliant with the Anti Monday sit-at-home orders by the government.
