Tobias Sylvester
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has warned that any trader who refused to open his or her store on Monday as a result of the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), would forfeit it.
KanyiDaily recalls that the IPOB had declared that everybody in the South East must observe a sit-at-home order on Monday, 31st May. in commemoration with this year’s annual Biafra Remembrance Day.
Reacting to the order on Saturday, Governor Umahi warned that traders who comply with the Monday’s sit-at-home order should be ready to forfeit their shops.
The governor issued the warning in a state-wide broadcast on Saturday in Abakaliki to mark the sixth anniversary of his administration.
Governor Umahi urged Ebonyi residents to go about their lawful businesses, adding that the directive emanating from IPOB was “an act of foolishness”.
“On Monday, markets must be fully operational. Anybody that the store is not opened, will forfeit the store. I ask the security agencies to massively deploy security people to protect Ebonyians everywhere.
“This no movement order is foolishness. We will not go into any form of slavery. There will be free movement throughout today, tomorrow, and ongoing.
“I challenged the youths, the local government Chairmen and the politicians, the stakeholders, the security agencies to ensure that nobody is molested and I have banned any form of procession or gathering till further notice in Ebonyi State.
“You should not be outside the country and be vomiting rubbish. Freedom fighters should come down to South-East, let’s discuss.”
“There will be movement in other parts of the country if there is none in the South-East so people should therefore ignore such order.
“Ebonyi people are grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for all his assistance and if people do not see his goodness, he has been good to us,” he said.
The governor equally warned South-East youths not to be used as instruments of crisis in the state.
“They should not be used to confront security agencies. Agitation doesn’t mean killing security agencies,” he added.
He urged parents and relevant stakeholders to advise youths to toe the path of peaceful co-existence and not depend on the illusionary influences of hard drugs and fetish powers.
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