Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied alleged compromise or betrayal of the struggle by its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu over the suspension of the earlier announced Monday’s weekly sit-at-home across the Southeast. It also regretted the ‘barrage of insults’ rained on its leadership over the adjustment, warning that such would not be tolerated. In a statement from its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB explained the adjustment by its Directorate of State, DOS followed direct order from the highest authority in its hierarchy. It described as embarrassing and unfortunate the derogatory attacks on its leadership over the decision, stressing that those that misconstrued the action or twist it for ulterior motives had lost focus of the struggle’s ultimate objective. Nobody bribed Kanu to suspend sit-at-home, says IPOB by Emma Elekwa, Onitsha August 17, 2021 IPOB lauds US over Kanu’s invitation to Trump’s rally Nnamdi Kanu FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied alleged compromise or betrayal of the struggle by its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu over the suspension of the earlier announced Monday’s weekly sit-at-home across the Southeast. It also regretted the ‘barrage of insults’ rained on its leadership over the adjustment, warning that such would not be tolerated. In a statement from its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB explained the adjustment by its Directorate of State, DOS followed direct order from the highest authority in its hierarchy. It described as embarrassing and unfortunate the derogatory attacks on its leadership over the decision, stressing that those that misconstrued the action or twist it for ulterior motives had lost focus of the struggle’s ultimate objective. The statement reads in part: “We want to make it clear to all that the adjustment by the Directorate of State, DOS was in fact as a result of a direct order from the highest authority in IPOB hierarchy, and does not in any way suggest compromise or betrayal of the struggle as being insinuated by some uninformed fellows and agent of provocateur. “Those trying to misconstrue the action of DOS or twist it for ulterior motives may have lost focus of the ultimate objective of the struggle. The derogatory attacks on DOS and leadership over this strategic decision are not only embarrassing but very unfortunate. “How can anyone in his/her wildest imagination contemplate that the DOS can take any action that will or be induced by anybody to sabotage the Biafran struggle? “This great IPOB worldwide family, has an undisputable leader in the person of leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his order is final. The Directorate of State cannot in good conscience wilfully disobey our leader’s order and at the same time expect Biafrans to obey instructions emanating from the DOS. “The DOS does not mind being insulted by Biafrans, but one thing that needs to be made clear to IPOB family members worldwide, friends and detractors alike is that the Directorate of State of the Indigenous people of Biafra cannot by any stretch of imagination be compelled or bamboozled into disregarding or disobeying a direct order from our leader. “Those outside the leadership can never know more than the leaders. What is expected of every IPOB family member and Biafrans at this point is loyalty and consistence. The DOS knows what is at stake, understands the terrain and can never betray the trust reposed on it by the leader of this great movement and by Biafrans. “The adjustment of the sit-at-home is sacrosanct because the order of leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be implemented fully. Biafrans and residents of Biafra land are therefore free to go about their legitimate businesses every Monday without fear, intimidation or molestation by anybody. Sit-at-home will be observed only on days our leader will appear in court, and on such other days our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will give the order.”

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has said that people in the southeast comply with the sit-at-home order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) due to fear of being attacked. Umahi, who was furious over the order and its economic impact on the zone, called on security agencies to step up their surveillance. The governor spoke on Tuesday evening during a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a double-lane flyover, which, the state government said, would be named after the retiring Catholic Bishop of Abakiliki, Most Rev. Michael Okoro. The flyover would be constructed at the popular Hausa Quarters Junction along the Afikpo-Abakaliki highway. “We ask the security chiefs both in the state and in the nation to step up vigilance against the sit-at-home order of the IPOB. “People are not coming out, not because of obedience but because of fear, everybody wants to work and do business but it is out of fear. “We do not know what we are doing to ourselves. I got a text message saying that the only way we can appreciate the killing of three million Igbos is to kill more. “Another was saying that we will work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays Thursdays and Fridays and we should give out Mondays. “That is very horrible. The southeast people must rise up to say no to this madness,” the governor said. Umahi expressed worry that the southeast’s economy was being grounded gradually due to crisis, warning that civil servants or contractors that observed the order would be punished. “Have you ever thought of how we are killing ourselves in the pretence that we are fighting? “This is very dangerous. I said that any civil servant or contractor who fails to come to work on Monday will fulfil his salary or position. “We cannot fold our hands in our own time to allow southeast to be destroyed. “We must ask those who said they are fighting for us if they are truly fighting for us or for themselves. “Igbo man is not known for killing themselves but for work. The governors know that those people that are being killed are our brothers and sisters,” he added.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it will work with the Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that anyone found abusing the naira such as spraying the Naira on social occasions is prosecuted. Ag. Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Osita Nwanisobi, said in a statement that: “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again been drawn to the activities of persons, who flagrantly abuse the legal tender by hurling wads of Naira notes in the air and stamping on the currency at social functions. “There have also been cases where people mishandle the Naira, deface it, hawk the currency at parties and reject the currency in some instances. It should be stated that, contrary to the practice of these unpatriotic persons, it is neither cultural nor moral, for people to disrespect the currency which citizens trade in. ‌“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (As amended) stipulates that “spraying of, dancing or marching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under the law by fines or imprisonment or both. “Accordingly, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is collaborating with the Nigeria Police, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to address the unpatriotic practice. “We therefore warn Nigerians, particularly those at social functions such as birthdays, weddings and funerals, to desist from disrespecting the Naira or risk being arrested by law enforcement agencies. The Naira is our legal tender and symbol of national pride. Let us respect it and handle it with care.”