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THE NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY Socio-economic Implications of IPOB's sit-at-home Order in South-East, Nigeria: A Preliminary Qualitative Investigation

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Abstract

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been agitating for their self-determination since 2012. And the arrest and extradition of their supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya heightened insecurity in SouthEast. IPOB initiated sit-at-home order in SouthEast to create awareness locally and internationally in their bid to securing the release of their leader. The sit-at-home order has adverse socioeconomic consequences as it was later hijacked by hoodlums who committed havoc in the region. This study examined the socioeconomic implications of IPOB's sit-at-home order in SouthEast , Nigeria. The study adopted social contract theory as framework, whereas descriptive design was employed. Purposive sampling technique was utilized with a sample of thirty-six interviewees, thirty In-depth interviews and six Key informants selected from market leaders, religious leaders and school principals. Qualitative data were content analyzed with the aid of Nvivo software. IPOB's sit-at-home order in SouthEast Nigeria has great negative socioeconomic implications on the people of the area. SouthEast economy was highly devastated. Foreign investments were eluded, insecurity, unemployment and underdevelopment became the order of the day as hoodlums hijacked the protest and committed series of atrocities in the region, hence the decline in economic activities, standard of education and high mortality rate. There is great need for dialogue geared towards securing the release of IPOB leader from detention so as to halt further devastating socioeconomic effects of the sit-at-home order in SouthEast region.
THE NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND
ANTHROPOLOGY
ISSN: 0331-4111
E-ISSN: 2736-075X
Volume 20, No. 2 (November, 2022)
DOI: 10.36108/NJSA/2202.02.0260
Socio-economic Implications of IPOB’s sit-at-home Order in South-East,
Nigeria: A Preliminary Qualitative Investigation
1
Valentine Iheanyi Ekechukwu,
2
Joseph N. Nwogu,
3
Vitalis Odinaka
Ugwukwu and
4
Godstime Emerson Emerho
1,4
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
2
University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
3
National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja
Abstract
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been agitating for their self-
determination since 2012. And the arrest and extradition of their supreme leader, Mazi
Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya heightened insecurity in South-East. IPOB initiated sit-at-
home order in South-East to create awareness locally and internationally in their bid
to securing the release of their leader. The sit-at-home order has adverse socio-
economic consequences as it was later hijacked by hoodlums who committed havoc in
the region. This study examined the socio-economic implications of IPOB’s sit-at-home
order in South-East, Nigeria. The study adopted social contract theory as framework,
whereas descriptive design was employed. Purposive sampling technique was utilized
with a sample of thirty-six interviewees, thirty In-depth interviews and six Key
informants selected from market leaders, religious leaders and school principals.
Qualitative data were content analyzed with the aid of Nvivo software. IPOB’s sit-at-
home order in South-East Nigeria has great negative socio-economic implications on
the people of the area. South-East economy was highly devastated. Foreign
investments were eluded, insecurity, unemployment and underdevelopment became the
order of the day as hoodlums hijacked the protest and committed series of atrocities in
the region, hence the decline in economic activities, standard of education and high
mortality rate. There is great need for dialogue geared towards securing the release of
IPOB leader from detention so as to halt further devastating socio-economic effects of
the sit-at-home order in South-East region.
Keywords: Agitations, implications, self-determination, sit-at-home, socio-economic
Socio-economic implications of IPOB’s sit-at-home order in South-East 79
Introduction
Politics globally was meant to resolve conflict and enhance development
through the instrumentalities of democracy and good governance. But
unfortunately, in Nigeria, it has become a tool in the hands of political elites to
disunite and marginalize the Nigerian States. Almost every section of the
country is today crying of marginalization. This led to several agitations for
self-determination in the last few decades. Sit-at-home concept is a recent
ideology used by aclaimed freedom fighters in South-East Nigeria to persuade
the Nigerian government to give sovereignty to the Indigenous People of
Biafra (IPOB). The concept also challenges government’s authority on the
issue of marginalization and at the same time seeks for the release of IPOB’s
leader who is in the custody of Department of State Services (DSS) (Ezewudo,
Ukwuoma and Uroko, 2022).
Sequel to the events that led to the outbreak of Nigeria/Biafra civil war
(1967-1970) and the inherent cry for marginalization that followed, various
groups have been agitating for the actualization of sovereign state of Biafra
(Chima, 2013; Igwebuike, 2020). Popular among them is the Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB) which forms the central focus of this study. The
current agitations for the actualization of Biafra started with Raph Uwazurike’s
Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in
1998, and it gained momentum through Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
following the arrest and detention of her leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on
October 14, 2015.
The proscription of IPOB and invasion of their leader’s home in Umuahia
by the Nigerian Army sparked off great social upheavals. Many IPOB
members were killed in the process (Adonu, 2018). The Military invasion led
to Kanu’s exit to Britain in his bid for safety. However, his current arrest and
extradition from Kenya on June 29, 2021 has heightened insecurity in South-
East. As a ploy to draw government’s attention to their demands, IPOB
declared weekly Monday sit-at-home order as a mechanism to protest against
the detention of her leader. This weekly sit-at-home order has crippled the
economy of the region. Lives and property worth billions of naira have been
lost following the enforcement of the sit-at-home order. Schools, hospitals,
churches and banks were forced to remain close every Monday. Hoodlums in
the region utilized the sit-at-home order while carrying out their nefarious
activities. The sit-at-home order amounted to self destruction of South-East
region economically (Edeson, 2021). Transport sector was not left out as buses
and goods on transit were set ablaze. Businesses, public and private
organizations encountered huge losses. Goods were looted while kidnapping,
political and ritual killings became the order of the day. South-East overnight
drifted into a state lawlessness.
Previous studies focused on the causes of agitations for self-determination
(Omotere, 2011; Chima, 2013; MicCain, 2018; Chukwudi et al., 2019;
Muonagorom, 2019; Igwebuike, 2020; Omilus, 2020; Ejemheare, 2021 and
The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 20 no. 2
80
Mbazulike, 2021). However, a negligible attention has been given to the socio-
economic implications of its inherent sit-at-home order. This study examined
the socio-economic implications of IPOB’s sit-at-home order in Southeast,
Nigeria.
The notion of sit-at-home order and its economic implications
Sit- at -home order was conceived by IPOB as a mechanism to pressurize the
federal government of Nigeria to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. But little did the
organizers know that the concept will backfire into serious insecurity
challenges with devastating effects on socio-economic institutions. Hospitals,
schools, churches, banks and public organizations were all affected. Economic
activities were all paralyzed as a result of sit- at- home order (Okah, 2021;
Osita, Anoke and Eze, 2022; Ugwe, 2022).
At the early stage of the sit-at-home order, most people in South-East
complied with IPOB in solidarity, but as time went on, its economic
implications begin to have adverse effects on the people of the area. Goods
worth billions of naira were destroyed in the course of enforcing compliance
(Ogunode and Chijindu, 2022).
Owoeye, Ezeanya and Obiegbunam (2022) observed that IPOB’s Monday
sit-at-home order has impacted negatively on the socio-political and economic
activities of the people of South-East zone. Their studies recommended
equitable distribution of resources among the six geo-political zones, quick
judgment on Nnamdi Kanu’s case and rotational presidency in the bid to
restoring IPOB’s Monday sit-at-home order as well as restore sanity in the
socio-political and economic activities of the people of South-East region.
Sit-at-home order has caused untold hardship on the people of South-East
Nigeria. The weekly closure of the region by IPOB’s directives has inflicted
more burdens on the people of the area. Nwodo (2021) opined that it would be
disastrous for the people of Southeast to lockdown the region again every
Monday after what they passed through as a result of Covid-19 lockdown.
People who depend on daily income would be adversely affected and the
economy of the zone would further be deteriorated.
Government has been using high handedness in the course of handling
IPOB’s agitations for self-determination. Locking down the entire South-East
zone every Monday would affect the region economically (Ogbu, 2021).
Ohagwa (2021) maintained that IPOB should not take actions capable of
causing more hardships to the people they have been fighting to liberate.
Shutting down the entire Igbo land as a result of sit-at-home order would
destroy the economy and impoverish the people the more. The idea would
cause more hunger in the region as the people are mostly traders (Chukwuma,
2021). The leadership of MASSOB also condemned any activity that is capable
of jeopardizing the security and economy of the people of Southeast in Nigeria.
Igbo have been subjected to slavery and economic pains. The region cannot
afford to inflict more hardships on themselves economically (Edeson, 2021).
Socio-economic implications of IPOB’s sit-at-home order in South-East 81
Igboke (2020) Maintained that Nigerian government should expedite
action on empowerment and investment in youth through education, skill
acquisition and implementation of policies that will eliminate various forms of
agitation through enthronement of good governance. The study also
recommended adoption of regional government and true federalism in the
course of nipping problems of national development in the bud. Anele (2021)
holds that the current administration’s incompetence in handling Nigeria’s
diversity had greatly increased agitations for self determination in line with the
intrinsic sit-at-home order.
The central focus of IPOB’s agitations and sit-at-home order hinges on the
fact that South-East region has the least number of States and Local
Government. The region also has the least number of Senate and House of
Representative seats at the National Assembly. These have paved way for the
least allocation of Federal Budget and least distribution of constituency
projects to South-East region (Ogbonnia, 2021).
Social implications of sit-at-home order
Sit-at-home was introduced by IPOB on August, 2021 as a ploy to securing the
release of her leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently facing trial on
treasonable felony and terrorism (Ogunode and Chijindu, 2022). As a result of
this, every Monday has become a public holiday in South-East. Aside this,
IPOB also declared as public holiday any day their leader is appearing in court.
Ebonine and Akinyetun (2021) observed that the task of nation building in
Nigeria is affected by ethnic and religious crises, inter-regional conflicts, civil
war and secessionism challenges. These challenges have culminated in the
IPOB’s agitations and sit-at-home order. Their studies recommended that
government should sit in a roundtable discussion with the agitators.
Educational Institutions in the South-East Nigeria have been devastated as a
result of insecurity orchestrated by IPOB’s sit-at-home order (Ogunode and
Chijindu, 2022). Their studies recommended that government should expedite
action in addressing all forms of insecurity in South-East.
Chukwudi et al. (2019) maintained that government’s strategy in dealing
with agitations and sit-at-home order has been very coercive with police force
and full militarization. They argued that these agitations and sit-at-home orders
have serious political and economic implications. They recommended
affirmative action on the part of government through massive government
developmental projects and all-inclusiveness in governance.
Security forces in Nigeria have committed series of human rights
violations and crimes under international law in their efforts to controlling
violence in South-East Nigeria. They have been carrying out repressive
operations since January 2021. These attacks include mass arrests, use of
excessive and unlawful force, torture, mass killings and other forms of
maltreatment (Amnesty International, 2021).
Government seems to be mild where excessive show of force is required.
Bandits shot down Alpha military jet that claimed the life of a serving Chief of
The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 20 no. 2
82
Army Staff on July 19, 2021. They also attacked Nigerian Defence Academy
(NDA), killing two middle level officers and abducted another (Vanguard
Editorial, 2021). Boko Haram has set up instrumentalities of tax collection in
communities where they hold sway. They provide securities in some of these
villages in Maiduguri and also collect taxes in exchange, thereby providing
some semblance of alternative government (Maza, Koldas and Aksit, 2020).
Sequel to agitations for self-determination in various parts of Nigeria
today, it appears that Something is fundamentally wrong with Nigeria’s
constitution. Aside agitations for Biafra, there are agitations for Oduduwa
Republic, Arewa Republic, Niger Delta Republic whereas others that still have
confidence in Nigeria project call for restructuring of the country. Most of
these groups are having feelings of alienation and often institutionalize
seeming sense of inequality (Adibe, 2017). Other areas of marginalization
include non-representation in the security architecture of Nigeria, non-
representation in grade “A” category of ministers, general unemployment of
Igbo youths and conspiracy against Igbo in every sector of the polity, Igbo
presidency inclusive (Ogbonnia, 2021). All these led to IPOB’s agitations and
its inherent sit-at-home order which has crippled socio-economic activities in
South East.
Theoretical orientation
The theory of social contract was adopted as the theoretical framework for this
study. Thomas. Hobbes in his 1651 book “Leviathan”, postulated the theory of
social order following what he expressed as the nature of human (Mc Cleland,
1996). In his deduction about the state of nature, Thomas Hobbes associated
man with negative perceptions, the state of nature was a period human existed
prior to the formation of planned society. In that state of nature, there were no
laws, everything about man was backward. Thomas Hobbes opined that this
state of nature would definitely lead to state of lawlessness. As a result, life
would be meaningless and brutish (Omoregbe, 1993). In order to break away
from this state of nature, man wholeheartedly surrendered to a common
supremacy in form of a state to tame this state of anomie so as to fashion some
semblance of orderliness (Ninalowo, 2004).
Inherent in the pattern of the state is the notion of social contract, it is
obligatory for the citizens to surrender their loyalty to constituted authority,
whereas the state in return provides measures to improve standard of living in
the society. And non-fulfillment of these reciprocal responsibilities within the
confines of social contract shall lead to social disorder, lawlessness and
insecurity (Ninalowo, 2010). John Locke in response to Thomas Hobbes
argued that his claim of man being naturally immoral was questionable.
According to him, a reflection of the birth process indicated that man was born
with a clean mind. John Locke maintained that behaviour is learnt, he
attributed man’s wickedness as a result of his socialization in the society.
Kindersley (1990) also opined that due to insecurity of lives and properties,
humans came together to form an ordered society in order to actualize of
Socio-economic implications of IPOB’s sit-at-home order in South-East 83
security of lives. Consequently, people relinquished their individual rights and
surrendered to a supreme power for the sake of fortification, and any abuse of
office by this supreme power is considered as the cost of harmony. The degree
to which a given political state is able to actualize this universal mandate of
enhancing the standard of living of her citizenry, is an indispensable measure
as to the level to which that political state is seen to be legitimate. If not, the
society will be in a state of anarchy (Ninalowo, 1999).
In the manner of Thomas Hobbs, the Nigerian political elites have failed in
their historic mandate of securing lives and property of her citizenry through
enthronement of good governance, they have rather used ethnicity, religion,
unequal allocation of resources and marginalization to disunite the nation,
thereby throwing the entire nation into agitations and various forms of crises
leading to sit-at-home order and insecurity.
Methodology
This study employed descriptive design in the course of obtaining in-depth
qualitative data. Anambra State was adopted as the study location. The choice
of Anambra State hinges on the fact that the State has two major international
markets. Onitsha main market and Nnewi spare parts market. The State also
has Federal and State Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education,
aside being a populous State in the region where IPOB activities were
predominant. The study population cuts across students, teachers, business
people, workers and religious leaders in the State. Sample size of thirty-six
interviewees consisted of thirty In-depth interviews (IDI) and six Key
informants (two market leaders, two school principals and two religious’
leaders) were purposively selected from the State using saturation principles.
Secondary data were gathered from online journals, publications and relevant
archival materials. Qualitative data were content analyzed with the aid of
Nvivo software.
Findings
Social implications
Agitations for self-determination in Southeastern Nigeria have far reaching
implications. Academic activities have been greatly affected as a result of
Monday sit-at-home order institutionalized by IPOB. Students did not go to
school on Mondays in Southeast. This has greatly affected the standard of
education in the area. Candidates that sat for Senior School Certificate
Examination (SSCE) missed their examinations in 2021 as a result of sit-at-
home order. A good number of students seeking for admissions into tertiary
institutions may not be admitted due to SSCE examinations they missed as
illustrated below:
Last year, I missed writing some of my SSCE examinations as a
result of Monday sit-at-home order. This will prevent me from
getting admission into the university this year. (IDI, 16 years,
male SSCE candidate, Awka, 2022)
The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 20 no. 2
84
The above response is in tandem with the works of Ogunode and Chijindu
(2022), who found that educational institutions in South-East Nigeria have
been devastated as a result of insecurity orchestrated by IPOB’s sit-at-home
order.
A school principal asserted as follows:
We were writing SSCE in our school and thirty minutes to the
end of the examination, hoodlums came in and dispersed
everybody. Teachers’ motorcycles and school properties were
destroyed. (KII, 56 years, school principal, Nnobi, 2022)
A university student who could not attend lectures in some courses that were
supposed to be taken on a Monday opined as follows:
We did not receive lectures last semester in some courses as a
result of Monday sit-at-home order. Even when IPOB called off
the sit-at-home order, hoodlums were still implementing the
order. They used it as a ploy to rob people of their valuables on
Mondays. (IDI, 19 years, female student, Awka, 2022)
Hospitals were also affected as patients could not access hospitals on Mondays,
most nurses and doctors were unable to go to work on Mondays as a result of
the sit-at-home order as illustrated below:
I was supposed to see my doctor on a Monday, but I could not go
to the hospital due to the sit-at-home order. This made me to
deliver my baby in a substandard nearby healthcare facility in my
neighbourhood. Thank God I survived, many have lost their lives
as a result of this. (IDI, 35 years nursing mother, Onitsha, 2022)
People were prevented from carrying out church activities on Mondays. Many
schools and churches that violated the Monday sit-at-home order were
attacked. A woman from Nnewi opined as follows:
I was inside the church on a Monday morning, it was a 6 o’clock
morning service and all of a sudden, gunmen started shooting in
the air, dispersing people to their various homes. (IDI, 50 years,
catholic woman, Nnewi, 2022)
Social activities were also affected as a result of Monday sit-at-home order.
Clubbing and hangouts have declined drastically, not just on Mondays alone,
but also during week days due to the activities of the Unknown gunmen
(UGM) in the area as demonstrated bellow:
Social activities have declined greatly in the State. Before now,
we used to attend night clubs, hangouts with friends in the
evening, play tennis and visit recreational centres. But all these
have reduced due to the level of insecurity in the area. (IDI, 55
years, businessman, Awka-North, 2022)
Socio-economic implications of IPOB’s sit-at-home order in South-East 85
A Catholic priest stated that men of God were being kidnapped for ransom
while ritual and political killings had gained ground in South-East. He asserted
as follows:
Churches were highly affected as a result of agitations for self-
determination and its inherent sit-at-home order. Many men of
God have been kidnapped. Ransoms were paid for their release
while some have lost their lives in the process. Ritual and
political killings are on the increase as cult activities have gained
momentum in South-East at present. (KII, 42 years, male,
Catholic priest, Ekwulobia, 2022)
Economic implications
The sit-at-home order in South-East Nigeria has impacted negatively on
economic activities in the area. Most major markets did not open each day
designated as sit-at-home. Onitsha main market and Nnewi spare parts market
were always under lock and keys within the period, thereby crippling economic
activities. Billions of funds were being lost as a result of this. Business permits
and other resources that would have been accrued to the federal and state
governments were lost as a result of sit-at-home order. A businessman asserted
thus:
I always make the highest sales on Mondays, most of my
customers who normally come from various parts of the country
during the weekend, usually lodge in nearby hotels and only to
transact businesses on Monday morning. I have lost much money
since the market does not open on Mondays. State and federal
governments have also lost substantial revenues that would have
accrued to them during this period. (IDI, 32 years, businessman,
Nnewi, 2022)
The above response corroborates the works of Owoeye, Ezeanya and
Obiegbunam (2022), who found that Monday sit-at-home order has impacted
negatively to the socio-political and economic activities of the people of South-
East Nigeria. The sit-at-home order and insecurity have also affected inter-state
transports and business activities. Most goods and services that normally come
into South-East from the Northern part of the country were operating at a
skeletal level. Goods like cow, yam, tomatoes, onions and others were very
expensive as stated bellow:
Most of our business associates from the North are finding it
difficult to bring in their goods to Onitsha as a result of sit-at-
home order and insecurity. Last time, a trailer load of onions
were looted by hoodlums while the goods were on transit.
Transporters were not left out, many of their buses were burnt for
violating the sit-at-home order. (KII, 48 years, male, market
leader, Onitsha, 2022)
The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 20 no. 2
86
A bus driver who was travelling to Lagos narrated his ordeal at Onitsha as
follows:
I loaded my bus early morning on a Monday. And I got to
Upper Iweka Onitsha around 9 o’clock. A group of hoodlums
stopped our bus and forced everybody to alight. The boys
accused us of flouting IPOB’s sit-at-home order. Within some
few seconds, they dispossessed passengers of their valuables
and ran away. (IDI, 42 years, male, bus driver, Onitsha, 2022)
A market leader at Nnewi spare parts market asserted thus:
The sit-at-home order has impoverished our people in South-East
region greatly. Hoodlums otherwise known as unknown gunmen
have destroyed so many police stations and public institutions,
thereby causing unemployment, insecurity, foreign investors’ exit
and underdevelopment in the entire region. (KII, 34 years, male,
market leader, Nnewi)
Discussion
From the foregoing, one can objectively deduce that sit-at-home order in
South-East Nigeria has great negative socio-economic implications on the
people of the area. The sit-at-home order initiated by IPOB in South-East
Nigeria was meant to protest against the arrest, extradition and detention of
their supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. At first, the protest was peacefully
executed and observed. But later, hoodlums hijacked the sit-at-home order.
Criminal elements in the region were hiding under IPOB to commit various
forms of crime. People’s goods were looted, many commuters were robbed on
their way to work, all in the name of enforcing sit-at-home order. Economic
activities were paralyzed, businessmen and women counted their losses as
trucks conveying goods from one location to the other were set ablaze.
Standard of education has also declined in Southeast due to series of sit-at-
home order. Most schools did not open on the day of sit-at-home, usually every
Monday of the week. Students writing SSCE missed their examinations. This
has great implications on students’ future and careers as the affected students
may not gain admission into tertiary institutions next academic session.
Healthcare institutions were also affected. Patients were unable to access
hospitals during sit-at-home order. This gave rise to poor healthcare delivery
services as pregnant women were unable to go to hospitals where they
registered for antenatal. This accounted for high mortality rate in the region.
Churches and social activities were also affected because of IPOB and
other agitators’ activities in South-East region. Night clubs, restaurants and
bars were partially closed as they were targets of attacks in most cases.
Sporting activities were also reduced due to the level of insecurity in the
region. Many people have been kidnapped for ransom while Unknown gunmen
(UGM) were killing and attacking government’s institutions. The sit-at-home
Socio-economic implications of IPOB’s sit-at-home order in South-East 87
order no doubt has given rise to insecurity in South-East. Hoodlums have
hijacked the agitation struggles, they were using IPOB platform to commit
various forms of crimes; kidnapping for ransom has turned out to be a lucrative
business for them, ritual and political killings were on the increase as cult
groups and Unknown gunmen were unchecked by security forces, thereby
turning the entire region into a lawless society. Foreign investments eluded
South-East as insecurity, unemployment and underdevelopment were on the
increase. This is in alignment with the findings of Ebonine and Akinyetun
(2021) who found that the task of nation building is being affected by
secessionism challenges. The findings of this study also corroborate the works
of Edeson (2021); Nwodo (2021); Ogbu (2021); Ohagwa (2021); Ogunode and
Chijindu (2022); Osita, Anoke and Eze (2022); Owoeye, Ezeanya and
Obiegbunam (2022) who maintained that the sit-at-home order has cripple
South-East socio-economically.
The findings of this study corroborate with the tenets of social contract
theory. The people of South-East Nigeria surrendered their sovereignty to the
Nigerian government in exchange for good governance and security of lives
and property. But government’s inability to fulfill her own part of this historic
mandate of good governance and security of lives and property gave rise to
agitations for self-determination and its inherent sit-at-home order. Killings
and destruction of lives and property have become the order of the day, thereby
turning South-East into a lawless society as propounded by Thomas Hobbes in
his social contract theory.
Conclusion
The sit-at-home order initiated by IPOB was meant to protest against the arrest
and extradition of her supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya.
Initially, the Monday weekly sit-at-home order was peacefully enforced. But
later on, hoodlums hijacked the protest. They hid under IPOB’s banner and
committed heinous crimes like kidnapping for ransom, ritual killings, and
armed robbery. Others include killing of security personnel, burning of police
stations and destruction of public institutions.
The sit-at-home order no doubt has weakened Southeast’s economy,
billions of funds were lost due to economic activities that were paralyzed in the
region. Lives and properties that worth billions of Naira were destroyed, goods
on transit were looted, standard of education also declined due to Mondays’
weekly sit-at-home order and students’ inability to participate in Senior School
Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
High mortality rates were also recorded as a result of people’s inability to
access healthcare facilities during sit-at-home order. Doctors were unable to go
to work and attend to patients as there were restrictions of movement on the
road. Finally, the sit-at-home order led to poverty, insecurity, unemployment,
foreign investors’ exit and underdevelopment of South-East region following
the destruction of public institutions.
The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 20 no. 2
88
Recommendation
The study made the following recommendation:
Dialogue: South-East traditional, political and religious leaders should
endeavour to dialogue with the federal government so as to secure the
release of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This will go a long way to
douse agitation tension and at the same time put an end to insecurity and sit-
at-home order in South-East, Nigeria.
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Article
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The concept of "sit-at-home" is a recent term used by freedom agitators, particularly of Igbo extraction, to get the attention of the Nigerian government to grant sovereignty to the Indigenous people of Biafra. It is also a concept that challenges the authority of the government while asking it to end marginalisation and to release the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested and is presently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). Sit-at-Home, particularly in Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi (South-Eastern states of Nigeria), has been given socio-political interpretation. Generally, politics is supposed to be the machinery for resolving conflict and governing the people sincerely. Unfortunately, it has become an agent of disunity in the Nigerian state. This has led to several agitations in the past, but they are more vocal in present times. The agitations for freedom have often triggered violence and conflict between the government and the freedom agitators, given room for the marginalisation of certain regions, and consequently proved Nigeria's government's inability to decide on behalf of the governed. The methodology used in the study is a qualitative phenomenological method. The study examines the challenges and implications of the concept for the socio-economic, socio-political, socio-cultural, and socio-religious lives of the people of southeastern Nigeria. The paper observes that this face-off could be resolved if the needs of the Igbo were critically examined and attained. The paper calls on the government to organise a dialogue and a referendum in order to end the menace in the South-Eastern region.
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In reaction to the Federal Government of Nigeria's prolonged arrest and detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, the group in the Southeast issued a Monday sit-at-home order, effectively grounding the region economically. This study examined the effect of mandatory closure of markets on Mondays by IPOB and its economic implications in Southeast, Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted for the study, with a population of 250 which doubled as a sample size due to the limited number. A questionnaire was the only instrument of data collection used. Collected data were analyzed with the regression technique at a 5% level of significance. The study uncovered that the sit-at-home order has a huge hostile effect on the economic activities in the southeast, Nigeria. The study recommended that the regional government (South-eastern), religious bodies, traditional rulers, and other key stakeholders, should diplomatically and politically engage the central government of Nigeria for the release of the IPOB leader; the Federal government should adopt all-inclusive governance as this will return full economic activities to the zone.
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The paper examined the effects of IPOB Monday sit-at-home order on political economy of the SouthEast region of Nigeria. Imperatively, the paper investigated the effects of IPOB Monday sit-at-home on socio-political and economic activities of the Southeast-Nigeria in the specific areas of commercial activities; market operations, transportations, educational system, Banks, Government institutions among others. The paper is descriptive and aligned with qualitative orientations; it employed documented evidence cum secondary sources of data; majorly media publications. The data gathered were content analyzed thematically with logical reasoning while Tacoltt Parsons and David Easton's analysis of systems theory served as a theoretical guide cum framework to the paper. Among other findings, the paper established that IPOB Monday sit-at-home has negatively affected the socio-political and economic activities of the SouthEast region of Nigeria. Based on these, the paper recommended an urgent need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of resources among the six (6) geo-political zones of Nigeria via proper federal character system. More so, the Nigerian Government should try as much as possible; make quick judgment on the issue of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (the leader of IPOB) since the Monday sit-at-home order was employed as a strategy to pressure Federal Government to free him from detention. In addition, the paper recommended, power shift cum rotation (presidential post) among all the six (6) geo-political zones of Nigeria, rather being an issue of the Southern and Northern-Nigeria. All these aforementioned served as practical possible solutions on how to resolve the issue of IPOB Monday sit-at-home order and as well; restore socio-political and economic activities of the SouthEast region of Nigeria.
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