By Chioma Iruke
Separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has suspended a sit-at-home order it issued for Monday, due to the National Examination Council (NECO) examination for secondary schools scheduled to start this Monday.
IPOB stated that a new date for the commencement of the sit-at-home order would be announced later.
Recall, the pro-Biafra group had issued a sit-at-home order throughout Eastern Nigeria in solidarity with its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, starting from Monday, August 9, until he is released.
Suspending the order in a statement by the IPOB leader’s younger brother, Kanunta Kanu, the group explained that it arrived at the decision, after listening to pleas from well-meaning individuals and groups that the order is suspended to allow students in Igbo land to participate in the NECO examination.
“IPOB has listened to pleas from well-meaning individuals and groups within and outside Biafra land that we consider the fate of our children who will be involved in the NECO Exam and based on that, we decided to shift grounds over the sit-at-home order.
“IPOB having realized the academic deprivation the already marginalized Biafra students who entered for this year’s NECO would suffer, decided to suspend the sit-at-home order to a later date, to allow the students to take their examinations.
“Allowing the sit-at-home to go ahead as earlier announced, in the face of the NECO Exam would amount to assisting enemies of Biafra to inflict more injuries on her children.
“As a group fighting for the liberation of her people from oppression from her enemies, we realized that it would amount to assisting the said enemies to inflict more harm on our children if we do not suspend the sit-at-home order to allow Biafra students to take their exams,” the statement read.
The move by IPOB was criticised by many, including Governors of Anambra, Chief Willie Obiano; Abia, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and Imo, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who had asked residents to ignore it and go about their normal business.
Many have also pointed out that the group’s constant resort to sit-at-home orders, is hurting businesses in Igboland.
