The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is not welcome to Imo State or any state of the South East.
Buhari is billed for official visit to Imo and Ebonyi states from Thursday, September 9, 2021.
IPOB, which the Federal Government declared as a terrorist organisation and proscribed, has however declared a total lockdown/ghost town in the entire South East Region on that day, according to a report by New Express.
According to the online news portal, the declaration was made during a Monday evening broadcast by IPOB-HDOS, Mazi Chika Edoziem.
News Express further reports that the President is expected to commission projects, including armoured vehicles newly purchased by the Imo State Government.
IPOB however declared that President Buhari is not welcome in any part of South-East states of Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi.
The New Express quotes the IPOB official as saying, “Nigeria’s president is not welcome in Imo State, Biafra Land on Thursday, September 9, 2021.”
IPOB warned governors of the southeast as well as traditional rulers, youth leaders, Presidents-General in the zone and party members to stay away from the event, threatening that anyone that flouts the order would pay with his of her life.
Edoziem said, “We want total shut down of Biafra land on Thursday. Is the President coming to commission the many youths of Biafra extraction that has been murdered or those still held in prisons?
“We want a total ghost so we can register the fact that we are not happy. The fish that ate my fish has upset me. We want to prove to President Buhari that Biafra land belongs to us and not the South-East governors.
“He is coming to commission armoured vehicles and also commission the school in Ebonyi, the Islamic University.
“All those women that wear uniform to go and dance anytime there is a sound of a political gong, the youths that come out adorning T-shirts, other organisations should advice yourselves.
“We will not fold our hands this time around and watch you dance on the graves of our Biafran sons.
“Our eyes are open and watching all of you. No matter where you run to, we will not hesitate to come after you and knock you down. Even if it’s a hole, we will pursue you to that hole until we knock you down.”
A resident of Owerri, who preferred he be not named, told our correspondent that given the ferocious execution of Monday sit-at-home home order by IPOB in the five states of the South East, most people are likely to stay away from the president’s visit for fear of reprisal by IPOB foot soldiers.
A few days ago some IPOB members set abaze trailer laden with motorcycle spare parts worth more than N50 million in Nsukka, alleging that it violated the Monday sit-at-home order.
