According to a human rights attorney, eliminating Monday sit-at-home calls for discussion
By Chimaobi Nwaiwu and Vincent Ujumadu
The Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB, have stated that the February 2 shutdown was a one-time measure in response to what it described as the Anambra governor’s authoritarian stance, following last week’s altercation between Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Onitsha traders over the monthly Monday sit-at-home.
IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful recalled in an interview with Saturday Vanguard that the weekly complete lockdown of social and economic activities on Mondays began in the South East region on August 9, 2021, in order to demand the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was then detained by the Department of State Services, or DSS.
Powerful claims that after a time of complete compliance, Kanu, who was in custody, ordered its complete revocation due to the detrimental effects it had on the Ndigbo economy.
Many praised IPOB for listening to Ndigbo people’s desires, and the cancelation was widely applauded. In addition to announcing its cancellation, IPOB frequently released news releases distancing itself from the thugs who were looting and intimidating people under the pretext of implementing the sit-at-home movement. Strongly stated.
“Only those who are hostile to IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will link IPOB to those unlawful Monday sit-at-homes following Mazi Kanu’s cancellation,” he continued.
“IPOB undoubtedly declared a sit-at-home on some of the days Mazi Nnamdi Kanu appeared in court, and Ndigbo, especially traders, complied without protest in solidarity.”
To correct the record, the sit-at-home protest that took place in some areas of Onitsha on Monday, February 2, 2026, was an isolated response to Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s increasingly autocratic stance and actions; it was not a change in IPOB policy.
Therefore, since IPOB has been in the forefront of the fight to end Monday weekly sit-at-home, it is inappropriate to ask IPOB or any of its members—including me, Emma Powerful—how we feel about Igbo people losing one day every working week.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, whose members are primarily traders, artisans, transporters, and small business owners who rely on daily economic activity to survive, are not the only ones who enjoy sitting at home.
However, it becomes necessary for our people to voice their displeasure when a sitting Igbo governor decides to threaten his own people with bulldozers and demolition at a time when Igbo homes and businesses are already being destroyed in Lagos, Sokoto, Abuja, and throughout Nigeria using the same language of intimidation.
“An elected Igbo governor’s responsibility is to safeguard his people, not to cause them trauma at the slightest provocation.”
During the years that we have been fighting the persons the man in Finland was using to create turmoil in Igbo country, where has the governor been? Did Soludo discover that the weekly Monday sit-at-home was still in place a few days ago in January? When he was running for reelection, why didn’t he recall that sit-at-home is still being observed and needs to be halted so that traders can return to their companies on Mondays?
“We are aware that some people, including Ndigbo, will not believe you no matter how you persuade them that IPOB did not approve of the weekly Monday sit-at-home because they already believe that nothing positive will come from IPOB. However, these individuals are few in number, and we don’t give a damn about their opinions of us.
“Let’s be clear: Monday sit-at-home is not something that anyone enjoys, but it must be handled with respect for people who wish to voice their outrage over Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s ongoing illegal detention out of conscience, choice, and sympathy for her. Threatening people for peaceful protests simply makes them more resentful and distrustful.
Powerful said IPOB is also aware that the South-East Governors’ Forum does not want Mazi Nnamdi Kanu released, describing such posture as irrational and unfounded.
Has Mazi Nnamdi Kanu ever experimented with regional or local politics? The answer is definitely no. Why, then, is there such desperation? He questioned, “Why the active support for his conviction and sentencing without any proof that a crime was committed?”
Unquestionably, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu stopped sitting at home a long time ago. It will be made clear that the sit-at-home policy will not be enforced starting this weekend.
“IPOB opposes the harassment, threats, or coercion of Ndigbo and Igbo traders for exercising their legitimate right to open their businesses,” he said.
“It is not about IPOB, it is about the way Ndigbo are feeling against injustices meted against them,” Powerful added. “The way forward is dialogue, justice, and respect for the rule of law, not intimidation, propaganda, or collective punishment of the people.”
Human rights attorney Dr. Jezie Ekejiuba spoke on the same topic and urged discussion, emphasizing that no one is in favor of sitting at home.
“Traders don’t like to sit at home on Mondays, and they do so because they are insecure,” he stated.
Due to insecurity, buyers (customers) avoid the market on Mondays. Transactions involving the purchasing and selling of goods require two participants.In order to force the buyers to leave their numerous private residences in Cameroon, Northern, Western, and Mid-Western Nigeria to come and buy from the sellers, the government should force the defenseless vendors to open Onitsha Main Market on Mondays.
“Let the government mandate that transportation companies open on Mondays. Let there be no more empty highways. Allow the government to compel banks to open on Mondays.
Mondays are spent by civil servants in Anambra State sitting at home. They should be made to work on Mondays or face termination. Let’s make Monday classes mandatory as well. Let the judicial personnel be compelled to open on Mondays as well, as they are not present in courtrooms on Mondays.
“What have the private vendors done to justify being discriminated against and made to open on Mondays against their will?”
