Major General Obi A. Umahi, president general of Ndigbo Lagos Foundation, urges Igbos to disobey the sit-at-home order of the Indigenous People of Biafra on Saturday, February 16

By Emeka Ejere

Obi A. Umahi, retired major general and president general of Ndigbo Lagos Foundation, has admonished the leadership and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to submit themselves to Igbo leaders and elders and get protection and counsel.

Umahi, who was addressing journalists on the side-line of a book launch by Ihesinachi Ewa, described as suicidal the act of confronting the government in power, saying that is not typical of an Igbo man.

He said the sit-at-home order on Saturday, February 16, the day of Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections, by IPOB, is a joke that should not be taken seriously by any serious-minded Igbo person.

“How can you take that seriously,…how many prominent Igbos have associated with IPOB”, he queried.

“IPOB is a group of traders, mechanics and unemployed youths.”

On the allegation that Igbos are being side-lined in the scheme of things in Nigeria, Umahi argued that Igbos may be side-lined politically, but they cannot be side-lined economically.

“If you check, you’ll see that all the indices suggest that Igbos are the best economically”, he said.

He urged the Igbos to boldly come out and cast their votes for the candidate of their choice on the election days and refuse to be intimidated by anybody in their own country.

“How can you go outside and get intimidated and come to your own country and still get intimidated”, he wondered.

– Feb. 14, 2019 @ 01:04 GMT |