ENUGU, Nigeria – Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has ordered an end to all sit-at-home protests in Nigeria’s Southeast region.
He also directed his followers to stop antagonising local politicians, including the region’s governors.
The directive was publicised by Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, in a press briefing in Enugu on Friday, July 28, 2023.
Kanu’s message to Finland-based Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, read: “Simon, this is a direct order from me. I hereby instruct you to desist from calling for any sit-at-home henceforth. Equally, refrain from antagonising governors or persons in political positions because you are not in a position to know what they are doing on my behalf.”
The IPOB leader further emphasized the significance of his instructions, stating, “I am ordering you to make a public announcement to the effect that you receive a direct order from me to cancel any pending sit-at-home in place at the moment.”
Kanu’s unexpected announcement appears to mark a pivotal change in the IPOB’s strategies.
In recent years, the group’s calls for sit-at-home protests have led to widespread civil disobedience, which in turn has sparked tension with law enforcement and political leaders.
Addressing the controversy, Kanu clarified his vision for the Biafra movement: “I embarked on this movement to liberate our people, not to enslave them. I despise and will despise any person or entity that wishes to inflict unnecessary hardship on our people.”
He warned against the misappropriation of his name in enforcing the sit-at-home protests, stating, “Anybody still engaging in sit-at-home is not my disciple. Haters of Biafra and mindless murderers in uniform are hiding under cover of combating enforcers of Sit-at-Home to unleash mayhem against the same people we swore to defend.”
Kanu’s message has raised hopes of a more peaceful relationship between IPOB and the region’s leadership, while also raising questions about the future tactics of the pro-Biafra movement.
