By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain in Enugu state and the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Chief Osita Okechukwu, has passionately pleaded with the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) to review their weekly Monday lockdown directive imposed on the South East and South-South states of Delta and Rivers, tagged "Ghost Monday".
Okechukwu's plea was contained in a statement he forwarded to the media on Sunday in Enugu, shortly after his return from supervising the APC Ward Congress exercise in Kebbi State on Saturday.
IPOB, had, in a statement on Friday last week by its Spokesman, Emma Powerful, said that the group had imposed a total lockdown every Monday in what it described as "ghost Monday". According to IPOB, the lockdown is to protest the continued incarceration of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, until the Nigerian authorities free him. Em
Emma Powerful also said the lockdown would paralyze economic activities in the entire South East and the Igbo-speaking areas of Rivers and Delta state every Monday of every week. Areas targeted for the shutdown of activities are markets, schools, Banks, transportation activities, etc.
The VON DG argued that President Muhammadu Buhari administration has so far placated the South East with infrastructural facility development in the zone and engaging in a lockdown of the region would amount to cutting off the nose of the Igbos just to spite Buhari.
According to Osita Okechukwu, "Let me, for the umpteenth time, appeal to my brothers in IPOB to sheath their sword, for to lockdown the South-East is simply waging atrocious war against Ndigbo. For our elders admonish us that ‘not to cut off your nose to spite your face.’
“I sincerely share IPOB grieve over the Ndigbo marginalisation, especially in appointments, it is a big challenge, but I sincerely differ with their strategy. Appointments for me are transient and what we got in infrastructure development compensates, as infrastructure is more enduring than appointments.
“I have gone round our dear country and could finger palpable hunger, insecurity, anguish and despondency in the land; therefore, for anybody to think anguish is limited to Ndigbo is a farce and blatant lie. Truth is bitter, but I owe my brothers the truth.
“Accordingly, it will be a very big error for IPOB to lockdown the South-East and think they are tough, strategic and will achieve any meaningful result, capital NO. IPOB should not cut off Ndigbo’s nose to spite Buhari’s face, for Buhari is compensating with infrastructure.
“Appointments are transient, and infrastructure is permanent. The Standard Gauge Railroads which will soon cover the entire South-East will demonstrate the efficacy of infrastructure. IPOB hold on please”.
The VON however said that he aligns himself entirely with the position of the apex Igbo organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, that the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, should be given a fair and accelerated trial. He added that IPOB should realise that paralyzing the economic activities in South East via a lockdown would certainly precipitate avoidable punishment and hardship and also unleash hunger and starvation on the Igbos just as they experienced during the civil war.
He urged the leadership of IPOB to reflect and be reasonable and pragmatic and equally "remember our brothers and sisters who are living in all the towns and villages nationwide, doing well and investing happily and prospering with other ethnic nationalities". NNL.
