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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Thousands of youths in Enugu State, yesterday, marched round the state capital in support of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who at the weekend wrote to Simon Ekpa to put a final stop to sit-at-home in the Southeast.
The youths, who trooped out in large numbers, displayed placards with various inscriptions including: “We support Nnamdi Kanu’s order to end sit-at-home”, “Sit-at-home endangers our future”, “Sit-at-home promotes fear”, “Many have been killed because of sit-at-home”, “No more sit-at-home”, “Sit-at-home destroying Southeast economy “, “Sit-at-home affects our mental health”, among others.
The youths urged residents of the Southeast to ignore Simon Ekpa and his orders, adding that it had cost the zone grave economic and humanitarian losses.
While calling for the immediate release of the detained leader of IPOB, the youths noted that was key to the restoring peace to the Southeast, adding that those declaring sit-at-home in the region were after their selfish interests, not Kanu’s freedom.
One of the coordinators of the youths, Edeani Edeani, said that the youths were tired of the continued sit-at-home order and were backing the IPOB’s leader order to end it.
“The youths of Enugu State have come together to undertake this march. We saw in the news that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has written to those declaring sit-at-home to desist henceforth. The reason is because sit-at-home is causing too much havoc and pain in our society, which Nnamdi said isn’t what he wants for Ndigbo.
“It is wrecking our economy and so many lives have been lost. We are raising our voice to say that we are tired and that anyone, who supports sit-at-home is an Enugu and Igbo enemy. As such the person should be treated as an enemy of the state. Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has also earlier made it clear that Enugu cannot continue to sit-at-home. He has also visited the President to appeal for Kanu’s release.
“But as young persons, since both the governor, IPOB leadership, and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu have said no more sit-at-home, and the leadership of IPOB is against sit-at-home, we will move from community to community to make sure that we educate our people that Enugu State is not sitting at home. In fact, anyone declaring any such thing is on his own,” Edeani said.
Also speaking, Emmanuel Anya, said: “I want to state that the youths of Enugu State are tired of this sit-at-home. The statement we are making is very clear. Sit-at-home is a cankerworm. It’s an ill wind that blows no one any good. We are suffering. This is not about the governor’s statement, we are saying that we are tired of sitting at home.
“The women in the village, the fathers, the children whose education has been jeopardised are all against sit-at-home. We are all tired of it. We are tired that the economy of the Southeast is going down gradually,” he stated.
The youths also called on the Federal Government to review its relationship with Finland, saying that the government of the European nation has not been fair and sincere with Nigeria and the Southeast in particular.
