BY
PROF. MIKE A. A. OZEKHOME, SAN, CON, OFR, FCIARB, LL.M, Ph.D., LL. D, D. Litt
Following the unprecedented reinvigoration of businesses and social activities across the entire South-Eastern States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which spontaneously kicked off on Monday, the 13th day of August, 2023, it behoves well on me as the Lead Counsel to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Kanu (who I regard as a “prisoner of conscience”), to specially commend Ndi Igbo, for yielding to this life-saving clarion call by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other major stakeholders in the entire South-East region, especially, the Governors and Security Agencies.
It is indeed worth celebrating and applauding that Ala Igbo, which is the undoubted industrial and commercial hub of this country, is bouncing back once again to life after a protracted period of the infamous “sit-at-home” on Mondays, an act which had hitherto completely devastated the lives of South-Easterners and crippled their business, socio-economic and other activities.
As I had always maintained in every of my court, public and media outings and interviews, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu had repeatedly and empathetically told me that he abhors the sit-at-home order; that he never sanctioned it; never liked it; and had always condemned it in totality. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu had always specifically told me again and again that the senseless “sit-at-home” presented a sordid opportunity for monsters and miscreants to ravage the entire South-East every Monday, during which period, criminals operated freely and unchecked, maiming, killing and looting poor people’s property.
The economic and social activities of Ndi Igbo were usually completely shut down on Mondays of every week in the name of sit-at-home. Children were brutally prevented from going to school, while families were equally prevented from going to work and carrying out their legitimate businesses and other activities for their daily bread. He specifically told me that it was inconceivable that he, who champions and spear heads the emancipation of his people will again ironically undermine their socio-economic well-being by supporting a policy as egregious and retrogressive as forcing his same people to stay idle every Monday.
Therefore, I wholly commend the resilience of Ndi Igbo in breaking this evil grid-lock of the offensive “sit-at-home” stratagem in total defiance of repeated calls for its abolition by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
May I assure the entire Ndi Igbo that the cancellation of this “sit-at-home” activity will not in any way affect, or interfere with the freedom of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu which has since been ordered by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division; but, which was unfortunately stayed by a subsequent order of the court. It will rather facilitate and enhance our journey towards ultimate victory, as we are quite optimistic that justice will be well served in his case at the Supreme Court, with Kanu becoming be a free man soon, by the grace of God.
May I reiterate once again that I greatly cherish the confidence and trust my client, Mazi Nnamdi Kanuand the entire Ndi Igbo have reposed in me and my very hardworking and resilient team comprising of Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor and others. These shall never be compromised under any circumstances.
In conclusion, I call on all Ndi Igbo across the South-East of Nigeria to henceforth troop out massively on all, any and every Monday of the week. You should go about your normal and legitimate businesses- commercial, political, religious and socio- economic – following the death and final burial of the abhorrent “sit-at-home” monstrosity. March on, Ndigbo. Continue to excel in all you do. Forward ever; backward never.
Thank you and God bless you all
