Apex Igbo sociocultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on Sunday urged all residents of Southeast to go about their normal businesses every Monday because “the era of Monday sit at home is gone”.
The group also encouraged all the schools in the Southeast to commence usual academic activities without any fear of molestation.
It further advised all transporters and traders that come to the Southeast from all parts of the country and the Cameroons to feel free to come and transact their businesses.
Ahead of the Christmas and New Year season, the Igbo apex group also called on all the market associations, road transport unions, labour leaders and all interest groups to sensitise their members towards full economic activities in all parts of Igbo land on Mondays, expressing enthusiasm that the volume of business transactions would be on the increase during the Yuletide.
Ohanaeze’s call was contained in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia on Sunday.
The statement explained that the call became necessary because the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had since cancelled the Monday sit-at-home order.
This, it added, was because every stakeholder in Igboland was united in the Release-Nnamdi-Kanu-Project.
The statement reads:
“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Professor George Obiozor uses this opportunity to appreciate the understanding and maturity exhibited by the IPOB during the Anambra State governorship election and the cancellation of the Monday Sit at Home.
“They have indeed scored two major points: First, the Igbo detractors and doomsayers were disappointed that the election was a resounding success. Second is that the IPOB can listen to appeal by the elders.
“It is very heartwarming that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worlwide, Traditional Rulers, Archbishops, Governors, eminent persons, women groups, political class, the academia, etc in Igbo land are united in the Release-Nnamdi-Kanu-Project.
“This has proved to the skeptics that the Igbo unity is incontrovertible and that they can also be mobilized within a very short time.
“There is no gainsaying the diverse views and persuasions among the Igbo but the maturity in the Igbo republicanism is the rare capacity to unite for a common interest any time the need arises.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls on all the market associations, road transport unions, labour leaders and all the interest groups to sensitize their members towards full economic activities in all parts of Igbo land on Mondays.
“As the Christmas season approaches, it is expected that the volume of business transactions will be on the increase. It is to the advantage of the Igbo land that financial inflow into the South East within the period is not encumbered by any means.
“While the huge losses incurred in the last months because of the Sit at Home is highly regrettable, efforts must be made to ensure that further losses are averted”.
(The Nation)