BEVERLY HILLS, May 29, (THEWILL) – Ahead of tomorrow – Tuesday’s commemoration of the 50th year anniversary of the declaration of Biafra, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Sunday stated that the May 30 sit-at-home order declared by pro-Biafra groups in the South-East should be optional.
This was as members of Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as well as combined security agents in the early hours of Monday staged separate processions ahead of the May 30 “sit at home” order by the pro-Biafra agitators.
While security agents comprising the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Department of State Services, Army and Airforce processed across major streets in Owerri and other parts of the state, the pro-Biafra activists staged a street protest across the Imo state capital.
Chanting pro-Biafra songs, the secessionist groups shared hand bills which read ‘2017 Biafra Heroes remembrance day. We remember our fallen heroes from 1966-2017. 3.5 million Biafrans killed in Nigeria Biafra war. Over 200 IPOB members killed from 2015 till date. 30th May 2017, sit at home. Celebrating 50th Biafra anniversary’.
Amidst cheers and ovation from some residents who came out to watch them, the MASSOB and IPOB members, demonstrated, clutching various Biafra insignias. They however did not clash with security agents who were equally on separate procession.
THEWILL recalls that the IPOB and MASSOB had requested its members in the South-East and South-South to stay at home on May 30 to observe the anniversary of the declaration of Biafra.
Speaking at a church service at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Abakaliki, to mark the 2017 Democracy Day and the second year in office of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi, the Deputy Senate President noted that the agitation and concerns of the groups are genuine but said they should not be pursued with force or other forms of armed struggle.
His words, “I addressed the World Igbo Congress in Enugu and I told them that we all condemn the marginalisation of our people. We can never support it and we will continue to fight against it wherever we find ourselves.
“It is our life… The idea of trying to force people to do your will, I don’t think it’s right. Those who want to stay at home should please stay at home but those who want to work should be allowed to go out.
“Individuals who operate private businesses and want to stay at home on that day should stay, while those who want to operate their businesses should be allowed to do so.
“I believe that civil and public workers should be ready to go to work on that day as I appeal that no group should force people to stay at home against their wishes.”
The lawmaker called on the agitators to embrace dialogue and constructive engagement in pursuing their agitation; not coercion or other forms of armed struggle.
According to him, “I advise that no one or group should engage in any arm struggle no matter the level of provocation.
“The struggles and concerns are genuine but with the collaboration of all and constructive engagement, we will surely get to our destination no matter how long it takes.
“Black Americans agitated for a long time before Barack Obama became president in 2008, likewise in India, it took constructive engagement for the people to actualise their agitation.
“South Africa despite racial disturbances and black oppression, employed constructive engagement and intervention of the western world and African interests such as Nigeria’s to dismantle apartheid.”
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