If Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo is to believed, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is not enamoured by the frequent sit-at-home orders called by the group.
However, the banned group has announced May 18 and 26 as sit-at-home days in support of its leader, who at the weekend met Soludo at the detention facility of the Department of State Services (DSS( in Abuja.
In a statement on Sunday, Soludo said Kanu was unhappy with the killings and enforcement of the protracted sit-at-home order in the South-East.
Mr Christian Aburime, Chief Press Secretary to Soludo who issued a statement on Sunday in Awka, reported Soludo as saying that Kanu was in a stable condition.
“Kanu is in support of continuation of the search for a sustainable solution to the insecurity in the South-Eastern part of the country,” the statement noted.
According to him, “Kanu informed me that if given the opportunity, he would make a broadcast that would address the degenerating security situation in the South-East under the guise of agitation.
“I visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on May 13 to felicitate with him and also as part of the wider consultations with critical stakeholders in search of lasting peace and security in the South-East.
“He was in very high spirit and we had quality and frank discussion in a very convivial atmosphere.
“He expressed sadness over what he described as ‘sacrilegious killings’ of innocent persons, kidnappings and all forms of criminality, including the brutal enforcement of the senseless sit at home perpetrated by sundry groups claiming to be acting for or on behalf of IPOB.
“He (Kanu) assured that if the opportunity arises, he will be glad to personally broadcast to his followers to maintain the peace,” he said.
But in a press statement a day after the visit, the spokesman for IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful, announced that only the 18th and 26th of May were sit-at-home days in solidarity with Kanu, who is billed to appear in court on those days..
He debunked reports that fixed other days for the sit-at-home.
Said the statement: “The attention of the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably-led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to a purported voice note ordering Biafrans and residents of Biafraland to sit at home on a date other than May 18th. This is the hand work of Nigeria paid agents and should be totally ignored”.
“IPOB is not a faceless movement and does not announce its activities through voice messages. Biafrans must be very much at alert because the Nigerian government working through its security agencies the DSS and the BBC are trying so hard to create confusion in our land in attempt to set Biafrans against themselves and scuttle our struggle for liberation. But we assure them that Biafrans know their plans and will not fall for their evil agenda.
“Like Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said, if you did not hear it on radio Biafra then it is not from IPOB. IPOB announces its activities and events only through official channels which are (i)Radio Biafra (ii) Press Statement from Emma Powerful (office of IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary) and (iii) Memo from the Office of IPOB Head of Directorate.
“To this end therefore the only Sit-At- Home order emanating and announced by IPOB leadership are the 18th and 26th of May, 2022 being the dates our leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU will appear in court. The IPOB leadership is very strategic in its actions and directives to the Biafran people knowing fully well that our enemies are desperate to scuttle this heaven-ordained freedom movement.”
He noted that “those behind the purported voice note should go inform their pay masters to stop dissipating their energy and resources on a hopeless attempt to stop the collective will and decision of the Indigenous people of Biafra IPOB worldwide to pursue our Self Determination Right.
“Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom across the world and especially in Biafraland should therefore pay no heed to faceless DSS agents and impostors recruited to serve the interest of Fulani Caliphate,” he added.
Recall that experts had estimated that billions of Naira are lost to socio-economic paralyses in the in the South-Eastern states.