By MATTHEW KALU, Umuahia

Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has called on citizens and residents of the state to resume their normal activities and stop complying with the every Monday sit-at-home directive by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

In a state-wide radio and television broadcast Friday morning to mark the 30th anniversary of the creation of the state in 1991, the Governor expressed the view that continued compliance with the IPOB order would not augur well for the economy as it was self-harming.

Ikpeazu noted that the people would be the losers should they continue to heed the sit-at-home call because it was curtailing their economic and social freedom.

IPOB issued the sit-at-home order to pressing for the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently in detention at the Department of State Security facility in Abuja, after his abduction from Kenya and rendition to Nigeria on June 27, 2021.

Kanu was subsequently taken to court which re-commenced his trial for alleged treason and was remanded was remanded in the DSS facility.

IPOB said her members and the entire Ndigbo would continue to observe the sit-at-home every Monday, starting from August 9, 2021, till Kanu is freed, a development assessed to be hurting the South East economy.

Ikpeazu, in his broadcast, made a veiled reference to the IPOB’s sit-at-home directive, which was still being complied with, even after IPOB has announced its suspension, saying it was denying the people their right to economic and social freedom.

He, therefore, implored the people of the state to resume “normal activities on a regular basis, adding that continued compliance with the IPOB directive was like cutting one’s nose to spite his face.

“We are all also aware of the attempts by certain elements in Abia State to affect our commercial activities and other endeavours on a weekly basis.

“As your leader and Governor, I am making a passionate appeal to Abians to eschew these self-harming tendencies and resume normal activities on a regular basis. While we do not begrudge any group their right to engage in lawful activities to press their claims, we would like to appeal to Abians not to fall for actions and activities that hurt their own economic aspirations.

“We are the greatest losers in any activity designed to deprive our people of economic and social freedom and we must rise above tendencies that seek to hurt our legitimate pursuits.

“Once again, I implore us all to resume our normal economic and social activities without fear of victimization while assuring us all that the Abia State Government has put modalities in place, in conjunction with security agencies, to ensure the safety and security of everyone going about their legitimate endeavours,” Ikpeazu said in the broadcast.

He said that Abia State government has in place, mechanisms “to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of all Abians and residents of Abia State on a daily basis,” warning: “It is imperative that we do not cut our noses to spite our faces.”