Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state, Sunday, told business owners in the that anyone who obey’s the sit at home order by the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), will lose lose his shop to the state government.
Umahi issued the threat during the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders meeting, held at the Christian Ecumenical Center Abakaliki.
IPOB had declared a weekly sit-at-home exercise to protest the arrest and detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian government.
The exercise, which commenced on Monday, August 9, has been trailed by negative reactions from the people of the zone.
Although the IPOB, through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, had amended the weekly sit-at-home order to be observed any day its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is scheduled to appear in court.
Powerful had asked South East residents to go about their normal activities, as the earlier announcement ordering the shutdown of the region every Monday until Kanu is released unconditionally, had been suspended, yet business owners are still scared to open for business on Mondays.
This development has compelled Ebonyi state government to declare that government will take over any shop that didn’t open for business on Monday, August 30, 2021.
Umahi said: “Any shop in Ebonyi tomorrow that didn’t open must be taken over by government. Our south east is being gradually destroyed we have to say no to that.
“A lot of federal agencies have placed Ebonyi State on red alert. I give example, like the Aviation ministry, it took my going to Abuja before they were able to come to give certain approval for our airport.
“Other ministries have placed southeast on red alert, it is the highest level of foolishness. I want us to all help, last two Mondays, many civil servants did not go to work, we decided not to pay them but the spirit of God prevailed and we paid them. But tomorrow’s own anybody who fails to go to work, our local government chairmen you have to take note, that person will definitely cease to be a civil servant.
“The security agencies must take special note of this. Security agencies must start parading everywhere, this is very vital and I want us to come out and assist.