Kanu Disowns Ekpa, Calls for End to Sit-At-Home

In a significant shift of strategy, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has declared an end to all sit-at-home orders in the South-East region and any other proposed means aimed at securing his release from detention.

The declaration was made in a handwritten letter authorized to his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, during a world press conference held in Enugu on Friday.

The IPOB leader made it clear that henceforth, anyone participating in any sit-at-home activities in the region would no longer be considered his disciple. The decision came after a factional leader of the group, Simon Ekpa, failed to announce the cancellation of the sit-at-home order through his media platforms.

In the written declaration dated July 24, 2023, Nnamdi Kanu specifically instructed Simon Ekpa to desist from calling for any future sit-at-home actions and to publicly acknowledge that he has received a direct order from Kanu to cancel any ongoing sit-at-home protests.

In his statement, Nnamdi Kanu emphasized that the IPOB movement was initiated to liberate the people, not to impose unnecessary hardship on them. He expressed his disdain for anyone seeking to inflict hardship on the populace and urged Simon Ekpa to make the necessary public announcement as instructed, warning that failure to do so would result in a press statement issued by his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.

The IPOB leader denounced the violence that has been associated with some sit-at-home actions, stating that those perpetrating such acts were not acting on his behalf. He reiterated that he was not seeking release on the condition of any sit-at-home actions but rather urged the Nigerian government to uphold its own laws.

Nnamdi Kanu drew attention to the long delays in the hearing of the government’s appeal at the Supreme Court, a situation that he believes renders sit-at-home actions ineffective and wasteful. He pointed out that the genesis of the sit-at-home orders had caused divisions within the IPOB family, as he had previously expressed his opposition to such measures.

The leader called on his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, to release the press statement promptly, including the screenshot of the handwritten note Kanu provided. With this announcement, Nnamdi Kanu seeks to emphasize the need for unity and to discourage any actions that may harm the interests of the Biafran people.

As the situation evolves, the good people of South East will be happy if the sit-at-home and insecurity in the area could stop.