Sit-at-home has left Southeast empty - Deputy Speaker

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has said that the sit-at-home observed in the region every Monday has crippled businesses and left the region empty, giving the impression that the people are lazy.

Speaking when he received a delegation of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, led by its President General, Chief Emmanuel Inwuanyawu, Kalu said the Igbo race not known for self-destruction that is evident in the idea of sit-at-home or unknown gunmen.

Kalu spoke just as the socio-cultural body called for the release of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

In a separate forum, the Department of State Services (DSS) also described the destruction and killings in the Southeast perpetrated by some pro-Biafra agitators as criminality.

The Deputy Speaker while addressing the delegation of Ohaneze Ndigbo, said “It is not our thing. It is alien to us. We don’t kill one another. We love our trade, we love our farms. We don’t sit at home.

“Sitting at home is for lazy people. Igbo people are not lazy people. Those in support of sit-at-home are not Igbos.

“There is no true son of the soil of Igbo land that would support laziness and call it a strategy for secession. If you sit at home, you are a lazy man. Igbos are not known to be lazy. We are industrious, we are entrepreneurs, and we work hard to succeed.

“The tradition of collective action and communalism has been a hallmark of the Igbo people throughout history, from building schools and hospitals to markets and farms. We are not known for self-destruction which is evident in the idea of “sit-at-home” or unknown gunmen. These tendencies are alien and abhorrent to how the Igbos are constituted; socially, culturally, and economically.

“In addressing our present challenges, we have the opportunity to draw on the things that pull us together. We may have different political platforms, but we must realize that the commonwealth and common good are ultimately the same. Onye aghana nwanneya,” he said.

Kalu said that observance of sit-at-home, unknown gunmen, and other social vices were alien and abhorrent to Igboland socially, economically, and culturally.

He, however, revealed that his office had unveiled a mechanism that would ultimately end insecurity in the Southeast and restore normalcy in the economic and social life of Ndigbo with a project known as the ‘Peace in The South East (PISE)’ project.

He said very soon, his office in agreement with all the lawmakers from the region, irrespective of the political parties, would reach out to the state governors and other critical stakeholders for the launch and implementation of the project.

The Deputy Speaker also said that the project would feature a regional security integration and political leadership that will streamline an agenda for the promotion of the Igbo cause and growth in terms of infrastructure.

While vehemently objecting to the sit-at-home order, Kalu said that Ndigbo must extend their handshakes across the federation to restore confidence.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his benevolence to Ndigbo by ensuring that the people of the Southeast were accorded a place in the political hierarchy of the country.

Kalu also told his guest about his cordial relationship with the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, said he would be delighted in accommodating the requests of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in stamping out insecurity in the Southeast.

He said: “Let me also state that, in our pursuit of these noble objectives, it is imperative that we draw a clear distinction between a legitimate call for justice, equity, and fairness against criminal activities. There is a difference between the two of them.

“Criminal activities cannot be taken to mean legitimate calls. Secession is not a legitimate call. We want to remain as one Nigeria!

“It is a distinction that our people must be able to make. And together we must ensure that the line is firmly drawn. The Igbo Community has always been at the forefront of nation-building and positive change.

“Go to any part of Nigeria, if you don’t see an Igbo man there, it means that place is not progressing, it means that place is not prosperous. We are everywhere, nobody is as patriotic as the Igbo man.

“I’m here today, not just as the representative of the people of Bende, but as a representative of all Nigerians. The House of Representatives is actually named the House of the People for a reason.

“The 10th House of Representatives led by my Principal, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who is currently in India and who has sent his greetings and who would love to host you when he is back, as we arrange your next visit, the Honourable Speaker himself will be here.

“And I want to say that I have a good working relationship with the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“I want to report to you as the father of Igbo land that there is a good relationship between me and this North Westerner, who is the Speaker. He does not discriminate, he does not undermine me, he sees the potential and we are working together like twins to help Nigeria in the House of Representatives.

“With him, we will ensure that there is justice, with him, we will ensure that there is fairness, with him, we will ensure that there is equity to all, including the Igbos.

Earlier in his presentation, the President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu called for the release of the leader of defunct Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, saying it will help restore peace in the South East.

“Ohaneze has decided that we want Nnamdi Kanu released. We think that every effort should be made to release Nnamdi Kanu. If he’s released, it’s going to make it easy for us”, he said.

Iwuanyanwu highlighted some of the proposed projects of the apex socio-cultural to include inter-state rail, and airports amongst other projects.

Speaking on the insecurity in the Southeast, the Imo State Director of the Department of the State Services (DSS), Wilcox Idaminabo described the violence in the Southeast being perpetrated by some agitators as criminality.

Speaking during a one-day stakeholder’s roundtable, organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) ahead of the November 11 governorship election in Imo State, Idaminabo, said the agitation must be separated from criminality.

Idaminabo urged monarchs, clergymen, and Igbo leaders to speak up against the evil of insecurity in the southeast. “What is going on in the Southeast is criminality wrapped around the ideology of Biafra. Biafra is not to kill or destroy because some traditional rulers and religious leaders cannot even stay in their communities. There is no Biafra anywhere.

“See, when I led operations to Orsu, what we saw was gory, headless bodies, vehicles that had become abandoned, it was terrible.”

Idaminabo queried why during elections in the zone, threats of no elections arise, saying it fuels allegations that it is sponsored by political parties.

IPOB seeks referendum, peaceful dialogue

In another development, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said it will continue to press for referendum and peaceful dialogue rather than take up arms against the Nigerian government in its quest for self-determination.

The pro-separatist group maintained that IPOB is a movement formed and governed based on international laws on self-determination.

The group, in a statement on Friday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said it would remain peaceful and law-abiding until all democratic and political solutions are exhausted.

“That is why IPOB has never yet picked up arms against the Nigerian government in our quest for Biafra Independence but has insisted on freedom via a referendum irrespective of all the Nigeria State sponsored brutality against us.

“The IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and all the members of the Directorate of States (DOS) of the Indigenous People of Biafra are men and women of honor who understand the principles and laws governing self-determination.

“We have severally placed the Nigeria government and the International Community on notice that IPOB is a peaceful movement, and we are ready for dialogue on the Biafra referendum anytime the Nigeria Government is ready.

“No country or International organization will claim ignorance of IPOB’s demand. We will remain peaceful and law-abiding until all democratic and political solutions are exhausted.

Then, IPOB leaders and members will consider the next option for Biafra independence because our freedom is a must.

For those opposing our peaceful approach and demand for a referendum and dialogue, you can chart your own course.”

He said that “Biafra ideology can be wished away or perhaps stopped by guns, bullets, extrajudicial killings, and illegal detentions.