‘IPOB’s call for sit-at-home on May 30 unlawful’

An Abuja based right activist and lawyer, Ugochukwu Osuagwu,  has warned the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) not to dare the security agencies and other civil authorities in their bid to observe the sit-at-home orders it gave to Igbo people, which will take place on May 30, 2017.

The activist, who is a constitutional lawyer, urged IPOB not to take laws into their hands in their planned bid to compel Igbos and non-Igbos to stay at home on May 30, 2017.

“You cannot harass or compel people who do not believe in Biafra to stay at home and stop motorists from moving in the East on May 30. Nobody is against your belief in Biafra and nobody is saying you should not exercise your rights in promoting your Biafra ideology, but in doing so, you must not breach the laws of the land .

“The call by IPOB to all markets, transport companies, schools, banks, companies, civil servants, petrol stations, okada/tricycle unions, park management, artisans, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Drivers Welfare in Biafraland, to shut down on that particular day in honour and remembrance of our fallen heroes and heroines is unlawful.

“This is a threat to the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigerian Constitution. The laws of the land allows for freedom of movement and any attempt by any group including IPOB to force people from freely moving will be treated as treasonable breach of public peace and confrontational which the military and other security agencies will not take lightly.

“IPOB has no right to restrict movement of persons and vehicles on May 30 as it is against Section 41 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) which provides that every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom,” he said.

The activist urged IPOB to follow the path of Ohanaeze who have been agitating for better deal for Ndigbo within the ambit of the law.