Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has responded to the denial by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) regarding their alleged involvement in issuing and enforcing sit-at-home directives in the southeastern region of Nigeria. In a series of tweets posted on Thursday, July 13, Obi stated that the sit-at-home order is an illegal and criminal act.
His tweet stated: “The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, have publicly denied issuing such a directive. Therefore, the ongoing activities in the South East are essentially criminal activities that need to be addressed urgently. This requires the cooperation of security agencies and the people alike.”
Obi further emphasized the importance of security agencies taking decisive action to address the situation and urged relevant stakeholders to come together and take deliberate steps to combat insecurity. He stressed the need for governments at all levels to proactively tackle poverty and youth unemployment, as addressing these issues is crucial for enhancing security. Obi stated, “Addressing the provision of basic needs is the more effective way to tackle insecurity.”
Meanwhile, the sit-at-home directive imposed by IPOB has had a significant negative impact. Residents, traders, and artisans in Enugu State have begun expressing their concerns and appealing to the authorities to intervene and end the restrictions. Businesses in the marketplace have also experienced a decline in sales due to reduced patronage, leading to complaints from traders about the economic impact.
