IPOB’s sit-at-home order good if… ―Ikpeazu

ABIA state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has said that he has no problem with the sit-at-home proclamation by the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) which paralyzed parts of the south-east on Tuesday for as long as it is peaceful.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents after meeting with acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he assured that his state was calm despite the apprehension the IPOB order had generated in some quarters.

He said democracy espouses freedom of association and freedom of expression and therefore, as long as the execution of the sit-at-home exercise was peaceful, it was alright by him.

He assured that despite the order, government offices opened in Abia were opened while private businesses chose to obey the order for different reasons.

Ikpeazu said: “You know the beauty of democracy is that there is freedom of expression and we also have the freedom of gathering and meeting.”

“My experience in that area is that we have two major cities in Abia, Umuahia is quiet, Aba is calm also, government offices and agencies opened but it is up to businessmen to either open their shops or close them at will.”

On why the order may have been complied with, he said: “Two reasons. One, some people wanted to comply and the second reason is that a few people will want to close their shops for fear of hoodlums that may hijack the exercise to loot.

“So, in all, as long as no life is lost, as long as nobody is molested, as long as lives and properties are secured, it is okay. That’s my assessment of it.”

On the impact of Ease of Doing Business being promoted by the federal government, he pointed out that Abia state was one of the first states to embrace the initiative through the setting up of purpose-built facilities to facilitate investments in the state.

He said government was willing to do all that was necessary to enable investors to start business in Abia state with minimum stress.

According to him, “Abia state is one of the first states that built a building and set up a structure for ease of doing business.

“So that if today you want to set up industry, in less than one week, I assure you, you will get your C of O because we have a landmark and when we have the wind either by direct contact that anybody wants to do business in Abia, we will come to airport and pick you up and I will personally usher you in through that one stop shop so that all that you need to know, land acquisition, licensing, will be made available to you.

“We see our potential business partners as the oxygen that will drive the economic life of Abia state going forward and we are prepared to hold them and make sure they establish without stress.”