Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has rescinded his decision to seize shops if traders obey the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra.
The governor’s U-turn on Sunday followed criticism which trailed his threat issued on Saturday evening.
He called on residents of the state, who wished to stay indoors on Monday, May 31 not to be afraid to do so, saying that they would not be penalised.
Umahi, who observed that it was the constitutional right of any person to remain at home anytime he so wished, equally pointed out that it was the right of residents to go about their businesses, stressing that nobody could curtail their movement.
“The Government of Ebonyi State received several requests from some families and residents requesting that they would like to remain indoors on Monday, May 31, 2021, to organise private family prayers in honor of their loved ones who were murdered during the unfortunate civil war,” a statement from Umahi’s spokesman Francis Nwaze read.
“Following the foregoing, the Governor, David Nweze Umahi, who is highly in touch with the people, has directed that those who may wish to remain at home with their shop(s) locked should neither be penalised, nor their shop(s) seized as it is their constitutional right while the rights of those who may wish to go about their normal businesses should not be infringed upon as it is equally their constitutional right.”
