The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Mr Benjamin Kalu, says the South-East region has lost about N4 trillion naira in two years due to the sit-at-home order of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB.
Speaking at the “All Markets Conference 2023” in Lagos, Mr Benjamin Kalu, expressed disappointment on how the situation driven away potential investors from meaningful financial transaction in the South-East region.
He said the proscribed body introduced a sit-at-home order in August 2021 as a means of putting pressure on the federal government following the arrest of their leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who was standing trial for alleged treasonable felony and terrorism.
Since then, Mondays have become compulsory no-work-day holidays in the south-eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Enugu however IPOB declared any day Mr. Kanu appears in court a sit-at-home day and any day it deems fit.
The Deputy Speaker noted that initially, citizens adhered to the sit-at-home order in solidarity subsequent hardships and deprivation, coupled with the significant economic toll on businesses, individuals, and households over an extended period, led to mounting concerns.
Mr Kalu, who is a bonafide indigene of the region, identified the current insecurity and stay-at-home problem as a threats that causes significant dame to the entrepreneurship, businesses collective prosperity of the Igbo people confirmed that South East Governors and the new army chief will no longer tolerate it.
He further appealed to Igbos to confront the challenges collectively, using innovative strategies to preserve their entrepreneurial endeavors.
REL/ TSIBIRI
