Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state has said that the Sit-At-Home order given by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is evil as the group does not care about the interest of the Southeast.
The governor who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki, said this while reacting to the decision of residents of the region to enforce the order on Monday, August 16, despite the suspension by IPOB leaders. The leaders of the secessionist group initially called for the sit-at-home to protest the arrest and detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The group however called off the suspension to enable students to take their ongoing examination.
Despite the suspension, economic activities in the region were halted on Monday, August 16, as banks, market, and other places were deserted.
Umahi while reacting to the development, said “We must rise to say no to this evil plan to destroy our economy and destroy our people”
He threatened to sack civil servants who failed to turn up for work and also ensure that shop owners lose their rights of occupancy for failing to open for business.
He said;
“People pretend not to come to work in the name of sit-at-home. Those who say sit-at-home have denounced the exercise, but people also take refuge in that excuse.
I have directed that any civil servant who fails to come to work, it’s automatic dismissal; any site that is not working, the workers are to be dismissed and any shop that is not open, the owners will lose the right occupancy of such stores.
The economy of Southeast will be destroyed by the reason of very few that is self-seeking.
We are known for trade and anyone advocating for sit-at-home in Southeast is evil because Southeast has not caused the problem of anybody.
If anybody is waging war, that war cannot be in Southeast. Our people must understand what is going on. It is not in the interest of the Southeast.
You can’t kill the people and destroy the economy and say you are fighting for the people. We must rise to say no to this evil plan to destroy our economy and destroy our people.”he said
On the recent killing of a policeman in Ezza South over the weekend, the governor said;
“I keep saying that there is nothing like unknown gunmen. We are killing ourselves. The known gunmen are our people; people being killed are still out people. The Igboman has never been known for this kind of rascality.
Just two days back, a policeman was killed again at Ezza south. The security people that have dedicated their lives to protect us are being killed. It is important that our young men should understand that the future belongs to them and they must not fold their hands and see their future being destroyed.
I think it is time for the people of the Southeast to rise up and say enough is enough”