With the Christmas and New Year celebrations scheduled for the next two Mondays respectively, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has stated that the sit-at-home order would not be enforced on the said days in the Southeast.
There had been renewed fears that the weekly sit-at-home directive may be reintroduced by the group following the refusal of the Supreme Court to set free its leader, Nnamdi Kanu last week.
But findings revealed that both the IPOB group led by Nnamdi Kanu and the splinter group led by Simon Ekpa are not contemplating any lock down on the zone, even though Kanu is still being held in custody.
This is partly because of the premium they place on the celebrations and the inability of the Monday civil disobedience to achieve anything positive in the struggle for the realisation of Biafra over the last two years.
IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful told The Guardian that the “group has no intention to declare sit-at-home on Christmas and New Year days.”
He added that the group had long cancelled the Monday sit-at-home in the region, stressing that it had no intention of restoring the order despite the failure of the Supreme Court to set free their leader.
Powerful stated that people should feel free to celebrate their Christmas and New Year days, explaining that the struggle for the realisation of Biafra had never been geared towards creating pain or hardship for the people.
A Catholic Priest, Rev Fr. Benjamin Sunday, noted that though Christmas and New Year days fall on Mondays, “it has not been in the character of Biafra agitators to disturb religious activities and are not expected to do so on Christmas and New Year days since they are also part of the celebrations.”
He explained that Christmas and New Year celebrations are very much cherished by the Igbo, and that they would not sacrifice the celebrations for anything.
“Christmas signifies redemption, joy and peace. That is when we celebrate the birth of our saviour. We all believe in God as our creator and sustainer. So, we do what we can to please and connect with Him during the period. That is the beauty of the season and that is why during the period, we share with one another,” he stated.
A public affairs analyst, Jerry Nwogu, while responding to whether the region would observe sit-at-home on Christmas and New Year days since the celebrations fall on Mondays, noted that the issue of sit-at-home was “no longer fashionable in the region.”
“The Monday sit-at-home is not gaining traction any longer. Go to the various state capitals in the region; you will discover that activities hold in their fullest on Mondays. Most schools that were not operational on Mondays are now operational. The banks are working; markets are opened and civil servants work on Mondays. So, I don’t know how else the celebrations for Christmas and New Year should suffer because they fall on Mondays. We are gearing up for the celebrations.
“The nature of the economy and the fact that nothing has been achieved since the idea started more than two years ago is no longer exciting. Even the protagonists and enforcers of Monday sit-at-home may have realised that they cannot achieve what they are looking for by bullying the people,” he said.
Nwogu declared that the enforcement tool has not worked and canvassed for a change of strategy. “The way to go is not by asking people not to celebrate Christmas or New Year. It will not work. So, I can tell you that those that have been shouting sit-at-home on Monday will not be anywhere to shout same on Christmas or New Year days. These celebrations signify who we really are,” he added.
For Emeritus President of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, the periods of Christmas and New Year are as important as any other celebrations among Ndigbo and therefore, hold a special place in their existence.
According to him, “Christmas is a festive day for Ndigbo; ditto New Year day. These two days are so important to us that we don’t know what day of the week it is. I believe that the Christmas season is for merriment and nothing stops us, Ndigbo, not even a civil war. So, I don’t expect disrespect of the Christian beliefs of Ndigbo,” he said.
Former National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chuks Ibegbu, also confirmed that Christmas and New Year days have the highest premium in Igboland, noting that the days receive the biggest preparations ever during the year.
“If you look at the streets and some public places, among others, the level of beautification will show that Christmas and New Year days are not to be joked with. So, we believe in it and take joy in celebrating the season,” he said
Reminded that those days fall on Monday, which is noted as sit-at-home day in Igboland, he said that activities of the days would go as planned, adding that they are days of joy, not sorrow.
“I do not think that anybody has been told to stay at home on Christmas day or New Year day. You can go and verify from the churches and see that Christmas and New Year services will hold on those days. Those days are as important as anything you can think about and we are poised to celebrate them.
“We celebrate with the sick; we celebrate with those in prison; we celebrate with friends and loved ones. What is important is that there is life and anyone that is alive has hope of a better tomorrow. That is why no matter where anyone is, he tries as much as possible to be part of that period. So, nothing will limit the celebration except, of course, bad economy,” he said.
Meanwhile, checks by The Guardian indicated that various churches in the region are geared towards celebrating services on Monday morning to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
It was further gathered that some churches have fixed services for the midnight of December 31 to herald the New Year, while others will observe services on the New Year day (Monday).