Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekwermadu, has urged caution among all the stakeholders in the South East region of the country, saying that one of the worst things that could happen to the Igbos now was to allow their homeland to be turned into a theatre of war.
Expressing concern that the violent agitations and the sit-at-home order by the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has wasted many lives and battered the South East economy, Senator Ekweremadu blamed the secessionists’ agitations in various parts of the country on a flawed federal system, injustice, and poor management of the nation’s diversity.
He, however, warned that violent agitation is not the answer or the way forward.
Ekweremadu, who spoke in a lecture, entitled “The Igbo in Diaspora: A Perspective,’ which he delivered virtually at the Igbo Heritage Lectures and Ugwumba Excellence Award event held in in Pretoria, South Africa on Sunday evening, said that “What has happened in Alaigbo in the past few months is odd, ‘un-Igbo’, and sacrilegious. Destruction, waste of human lives, and economic losses have been the lot of our region.
“In particular, the sit-at-home has haemorrhaged Igbo lives and economy and it is good the IPOB has said they are no longer interested in the sit-at-home.
“No wise man brings war into his home. Our people prosper in industry, commerce, and the informal sector. Most of them survive on a daily income.
“Therefore, while we are at liberty to employ every legitimate and democratic means to press for justice and equity, we must all work together to condemn and end the violence, irrespective of whatever quarters it is coming from,” he said.
Ekweremadu, however, said the South-East Caucus of the National Assembly was working towards defusing tension in the region as well as finding a political solution that would result in the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
“We are working quietly and surely to address these issues, including finding a political solution to the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu matter,” he added.
Meanwhile, despite assurances by IPOB and the Imo State government that the ‘Ghost Mondays’ sit-at-home ordered by the group had been suspended, Owerri, the State capital, was completely grounded on Monday.
The same scenario was played out in the other States of the South East region.
The residents had last Monday heeded to the advice to go about their duties, but no sooner had they gone out than some members of the group, gathered and chased them home.
There was a serious stampede as students, motorist and marketers caught in the melee scrambled to get into few buses making quick getaways.
Not to be caught up in another stampede again, they decided to stay at home.
Schools, markets, hotels and major commercial centres were firmly shut while teachers and students deserted lectures
The state and federal secretariats were ghosts of their selves as even civil servants dared their employers to stay at home.
Our correspondent, who went round the Owerri metropolis at about 1.30 pm, saw youth taking advantage of the lonely streets to play football.
A resident, who gave his name as Michael, said he could not afford what his family suffered last week by venturing out.
He said, ”I could not afford to take another chance after what we suffered last Monday. So my children didn’t go school today and my wife with the children all stayed at home. There is always another tomorrow but there will not be another life.”
No response from the state government as to whether it would take punitive measures, especially against civil servants that refused to turn up for duties.
In one of the instances, the state government had shut banks that obeyed the order.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, was not available for comments.