Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has affirmed that the state no longer observes the “illegal sit-at-home” order, declaring that residents have stopped complying with directives from non-state actors.
Speaking during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state on Saturday to inaugurate various projects, Governor Mbah highlighted the administration’s efforts to strengthen security, improve education, and enhance access to affordable healthcare.
He noted that these goals are achievable only when public safety is guaranteed.
The state government had previously warned in June 2023 that schools, markets, or businesses refusing to operate due to the sit-at-home order would face indefinite closure.
The sit-at-home protests, traditionally observed on Mondays, were introduced by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to advocate for the release of their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Although IPOB later distanced itself from enforcing the protests, other non-state actors allegedly hijacked the directive, causing disruptions across the Southeast. Governor Mbah emphasized the economic harm caused by the protests, stating, “We no longer observe sit-at-home in Enugu. Our people go to work every day of the week, and we no longer take orders from non-state actors.”
Mbah also praised President Tinubu’s policies, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and unification of foreign exchange, which he said freed funds for development. “With those funds, we are now able to fully complete projects, not just in physical infrastructure but also in social and digital development,” Mbah added.
Nnamdi Kanu, through a letter in 2023, instructed Simon Ekpa to halt all sit-at-home orders. However, Ekpa, operating from Finland and later arrested on terrorism charges, dismissed the letter as fake.
Governor Mbah’s tough stance reflects a broader regional effort to combat the influence of criminal elements disrupting economic and social activities in the Southeast.
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