ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has given benefit of doubt to the separatist movement, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), saying he accepted the group’s denial of responsibility in continuous attacks on residents in the South-East.
In a thread of tweets on Thursday morning, Obi explained that IPOB’s statement means that those behind the attacks on residents of the South-East are common criminals who should be flushed out of the region by the authorities of Federal Government of Nigeria.
Obi also decried the ongoing disruption of business and social activity in the South-East region over the so-called sit-at-home directive, alleged to be coming from the IPOB.
“The Sit-at-home is purported to be coming from the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, when the body has publicly denied issuing such directive.
“What is going on in the South East, therefore, is essentially a criminal activity that must be nipped in the bud, with all hands being on deck, security agencies, and the people alike,” he said.
Accepting IPOB’s denial, which appeared to have come from a faction of the proscribed secessionist movement, the former Anambra State Governor appeared to be ignoring the public statement of Simon Ekpa, the most vocal leader of the group.
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Recall that Ekpa had recently, issued several statements repeating enforcement of the group’s agenda to paralyse commercial activities across the South-East by instilling fears on residents of the region, against the government’s directives.
This is as Economists have estimated that billions of naira had been lost due to IPOB’s sit-at-home order, which usually sees heavy compliance in the five states every Mondays.
Ekpa had on Wednesday, issued another directive mandating the region to observe the sit-at-home for two weeks between 31 July to 14 August to, among other things, demand Mr. Kanu’s freedom and a referendum for Biafra’s exit from Nigeria.
However, Obi did not say which IPOB group denied responsibility for the attacks.
Obi’s comments have since drawn social media anger, especially from supporters of President Bola Tinubu, who have long accused the politician of harbouring sympathies for the separatist.