On Sunday, the Enugu State chapter of the pan-Igbo sociocultural organization Ohanaeze Ndigbo reaffirmed its unwavering support for the State government’s decision to call off the sit-at-home campaign.

A section of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Simon Ekpa, who claimed to be the Biafran Prime Minister and lives in Finland, imposed the weekly sit-at-home.

The organization is enforcing sit-at-home as a means of demanding the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is being held by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), the country’s secret police.

However, the group praised the courage of the State Governor, Barr Peter Mbah, for taking the bold step to end “the scourge of sit-at-home in Enugu state” in a statement signed by Prof. Fred O. Eze, president of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo branch in Enugu State, and made available to journalists in Enugu on Sunday.

Ohanaeze remembered how, prior to the cancellation by the government, a climate of terror had taken over Enugu State, making it impossible for people to conduct their daily lives with confidence.

Every Monday became an unofficial holiday in Enugu State every businesses and other social activities typically stopped on that day, thus, the sustained observance of the sit-at-home order had a detrimental effect on Enugu State’s economy. Businesses were fast winding down, and moving elsewhere, which reduced foreign direct investment and caused a significant outflow of cash.

Therefore, the Enugu State Government’s intervention couldn’t have happened at a better moment. The fact that Governor Peter Mbah has advocated for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as well and has taken action to persuade the Federal Government to do so shows that the Governor is aware of the crucial issues at play.

“Since it was introduced and put into effect, the sit-at-home order is self-immolating and has disrupted all productive resources and assets in the state.”

Ohanaeze expressed satisfaction that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, had definitely ordered an end to all sit-at-home activities in South East Nigeria.

The group praised the “life-saving order by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu because the sit-at-home is counterproductive as it does incalculable harm to the people IPOB is fighting for.”

Ohanaeze urged parents, guardians, youth, and members of the public to work with Gov. Mbah and his administration to put a stop to sit-at-home days in the State for good.