 Welcome once again to the breakfast here on PLOS TV Africa our first major conversation for today moves to the southeast And it's something we had already briefly spoken about during of the press with Chris Wandoo It is with regards to sit at home order, you know also called ghost Mondays in the southeast always shocking When you hear people, you know on a Sunday evening talk about you're not going anywhere on a Monday because well They have an extended weekend and that is because of the indigenous people of Biafra's sit at home order in the southeast Yesterday there was also reports of a truck carrying motorcycle spare parts that was burnt And of course the goods destroyed for allegedly disobeying the sit at home order in the southeast We're speaking this morning With good luck Ibn who's the president coalition of southeast youth leaders who's joining us from imo state. Good morning, Mr. Ibn Good morning. Thanks for joining us. All right, so there's a lot of No reactions to the sit at home order. Some people, you know, of course are for it some of some others and a growing number apparently Completely against it, but it doesn't seem to be changing So let me first of all start with, you know, what the narrative is from you concerning staying at home on Mondays well the issue of sitting at home on Monday the leadership of IPOB have already said that they have cancelled the exercise I'm now some criminal elements I've now taken advantage and The anand strong people's properties character people to stay at home and That is really bad for the economy of the start is yesterday We had two incidents to hear a motocross by a vehicle conveying Motor space fire was destroyed Another one at an umbrella. I was conveying from The vehicle and the audio booths was also destroyed So this is really bad for the economy and the image of the start Sorry, when you say the leadership of IPOB has, you know, cancelled the citadome order That doesn't seem to be the case because people are still sitting at home So does it mean that nobody believes when the IPOB says or put out a statement like that? Because their members don't seem to be, you know doing or following that statement and who exactly would use We would you say is the leadership of IPOB currently? well The leadership of IPOB is one Before now, we only have a man powerful that have been given their directives The same person came and said No more sitting at home So now the people who are enforcing the so-called it at home are criminals Like that Monday sit at home last week Three criminals went into a clean station in Angkor Panah Rocked the police station Collected a vehicle from someone was moving out that's a vehicle And the residents have to call on the security agencies who came and Those guys open fire on the security agencies. There was a stage of fire and three of them were killed So what is happening? So long IPOB stop. It's not criminal. We have hijacked the S5 And now an item that's in the paper Okay, so Mr. Ibrahim if you say that the Citatum order which has allegedly been suspended has been hijacked Who's responsibility then is it to reverse that hijack? I said whose responsibility then is it to reverse that hijack? Is it a state government? Because we've seen that the oppressed statements, you know almost mean nothing You know the oppressed statements asking people to go about their lawful activities has had not You know much of a great effect. So is it the state governors? Is it the leadership of the IPOB? Is it the ahanez the indie boo? I mean whose responsibility is it? Who has the influence and authority to ask the Igbo people in the southeast to go about their lawful activities and they listen? It is the responsibility of the government To give people directly or what to do and the following But the security agencies have not been leaving out respectations So that is why the people are afraid and refuse to come out Because of there is a lacuna between the people and the government So that is the challenge the government the state government the federal government should stand up and Leave up to its responsibilities of protecting the people So I want you to help me play out a real-life scenario with the law enforcement agencies actually doing their jobs Are you expecting, you know the IGP to give an order to police commands across the southeast order them to be stationed at You know public places such that Wendy's IPOB or Ghost Monday hijackers come out to disrupt business activities. Then you have law enforcement agencies or standby to checkmate it Is that what we're looking at or what do you have in mind? There should be a patrol team Patrol team, okay. Yes of security agencies like we that those vehicles were destroyed. There was no presence of security anywhere So so the security agencies also sit at home on Mondays? Yes You know, but what what what does this say then? for of the IPOB Can you can you in anywhere? No, I know you're very likely you're not a member of but What does this say about the IPOB and their fight in the southeast and their cause in the southeast? I'm asking what does all of this that we are seeing now. What does it say about the IPOB? What it pays for the IPOB. Yeah, what does it tell you know of the IPOB? Well, it does that the IPOB that you have not taken over the rental of command somehow For them to give that relief and everybody will obey it means that they're not charged Which is not good. I also the government should Work on work on themselves. They should know what to do so that the people they will get the confidence of the people They will have lost lost confidence government That is just what it does All right I also want you to share your views on the the feelings of the people concerning this I had a conversation with someone last week and I was you know, of course in the same You know space asking at what point are the people of the southeast themselves going to get tired of sitting at home on Mondays And do otherwise. Do you think that that will happen? The people of the south is already tired of sitting at home on Monday They are no longer happy to sit at home now There is West African examination cancel examination going on white examination going on and They they on every Monday some students are expected to write the examination Now you expect a student not to write the exam because you're sitting at home. No most of these people who are saying they are forcing the so-called stathom are not learning they don't even attend primary school and Now they'll be happy to see all that She's at home not like in the examination So that is it when the people are already tired of sitting at home They want the government to live up to its expectations so that people can go about their lawful businesses A Monday in Southeast is a serious business day for the people of Southeast What is happening now is as a result like shooting yourself on the leg It is seriously based on the economy of Southeast. Yeah, so and that's why it's difficult for me to understand and understand What exactly the IPOB, you know hopes to achieve because I've described this really as as just you know, the the influence or the euphoria of power and control Does the IPOB think that they're achieving anything with this? Yeah, they believe that if they sit at home That the federal government to be forced to relive not the color. No Miss I came I don't I want to believe that you know, they are they also have some sense Because obviously that's not going to happen. So what exactly then do they think that they're achieving with this? I'm saying I want to believe that, you know, the IPOB and their members, you know Can't think they have some sense and they can see that this is this is obviously not going to get anybody released So what then would you say that they are achieving with this? Yeah, so me as the person I don't think they're achieving anything On Monday So what they should do is to look at other authorities and forget about it. That's what I wanted They can't achieve anything for any political is it that's what I wanted It is it is I don't see any any sense in that So, how would you say the Oh, honey, Zendibu need to come in to doubt the tension in the southeast Thank you Can you hear me miss? I am. Yes. I can hear you now So I'm saying what role do you expect the oh honey Zendibu that evil social political? Organization there in the southeast what role do you expect them to play? Is it as a mediator between the state government between the IPOB? What sort of role? Do we expect that you know organization to play in making sure there is peace and restoration of order in those states The world it is I will explain them to play the role of a mediator Between the government and the leadership of IPOB Because as you start down what we need is a political situation that they are raised up in an Italian If this matter is addressed politically all the station would house So that is the role like I said, oh honey Zendibu to play so that the zone can move forward It is not really It's not easy for people to visit at some every day and the economy will be gradually going down So something should be orderly thought Well, I know that's the code at the zone so that we cannot this this whole thing can just pass Yeah, but but you know that that's not very likely to happen And that's with regards in the kind of being released, you know, just like that Do you think that the IPOB itself needs some level of control that they seem to have lost Look at look at the problem now when IPOB came on board The the leverage on the marginalization of the southeast people to gain the mind of the people You can imagine the secret of nature of the of this entire Country, there's no single person that is on such So many appointments in cities are not considered last time So five further investors was approved for the six of us it was only five that got 30 for this movement. So they work on the mind of the people based on the marginalization of the zone and the repose so that it is true and not believe them and not have confidence in what they're saying So you have to address this issue is to address marginalization of the zone So that the government the people cannot have confidence in the government but when you are marginalizing the people of Saudi and Even when they are shouting you keep marginalizing them The people continue to believe in IPOB So what you're saying is that so what you're saying is that even even if there are people who don't necessarily Enjoy sitting at home on Monday. They you know somehow also sympathize with the cause of the IPOB So what are you saying then that even though there's people who don't necessarily enjoy sitting at home on Monday? They are the same time also sympathize with the IPOB and its cause Yeah, that's it. All right. And and and you know, that brings me to the question once again that I asked Do you think that it will get to a point where the people will revolt against the IPOB? Well, the people will revolt against the IPOB Well, the people don't have the will to revolt against it for now Because so what I'm seeing and some views and the people don't have the will to fight They have lost confidence in the government and they just take anything they see as their fate So that is a problem now. All right. Miss IBM share with me. What's what's the conversation like on Mondays across the Southeast? You're an emo state When you've had conversations with people, what what do they mostly say? On Monday, people don't see it as a namajé dosita. So now they have adopted to it when you go around you see these play football in some locations You see some people cooking some people playing even inside the street The most a very remote area the shop is closed down So it is time becoming a way of life and which is not good. It is gargling to be the economy of the zone People don't complain again How would you also interpret the failure of Government and its security agencies to enforce, you know, the freedom to move about lawfully on Mondays Because the guest that we had earlier had said that it's and during government's Responsibility to assure the Nigerian people that they are safe to come out of their homes on Mondays Regardless of any order by the IPOB. So how would you describe the failure? Oh, you know, what would you say about the failure of the government to give that reassurance to the people? Because there's enough of the security agencies as the NSCDC still in the southeast. There's a DSS. There's the army There's the police. That's all sorts in the southeast And so but the federal government has failed To use these security agencies to ensure or to reassure the people of the southeast that they are safe You bet your roots Those three time whatever you can see the security agencies there So those places you see them are not really important. The major places are at the remote areas They don't you don't see security there and they don't Criminal harassment for collective properties robbed them and other in the name of enforcing snathom So they have failed what they are doing I'm even me I know everybody's indoors not because you want to most people are indoors not because you want to But because they can't that you Is the IPOB by their actions aren't they now being oppressors of the same people that they claim to be fighting for No, it's not it doesn't have to be the leadership Mr. IBM, this is what I'm saying. So it's don't have to have to be the leadership Because if the IPOB has also seen that, you know, the people are groaning businesses are suffering um Trucks have been burnt People's businesses are being damaged and destroyed on Mondays simply but because they came out and they stay silent Because you might describe these people as oh the criminals have hijacked it But nobody is going to call them criminals like that. They're going to be assumed You know, it's gonna as who everyone's gonna assume that the IPOB members their ESN members And so when the IPOB stays silent when they see these things happening aren't they, you know Basically being oppressors of the same people that they claim to be trying to save Well, the people who are doing this are oppressing the people that deserve the truth I mean, but I mean, I'm going to call them IPOB members I mean, is it there's no other way because when when the IPOB sees this because you've called them criminals But when the IPOB sees, you know that IPOB have their registered member And there are people who are enforcing their leadership who are criminals and who are not their members So I don't describe everybody as IPOB members. They are their members very sad members So these people who are doing this most of them I have seen I'm not their members They are just criminals With the move around harrassing people in the name of enforcing a spectrum in in an organization. They are not members Well, most of them well when the IPOB sees these things happening and stays silent it means that it's enjoying All of this that is going on. Don't you think so? Well, I would I wouldn't read your mind or what they feel or what they think because I believe the statement they made openly that they have cancelled the sit-atum. Yeah, Ms. Iben Every now and then and I'm guessing that you probably have done saying We react to banditry in the north and in kidnapping and some of all of that We also would say that oh, you know federal government has condemned this Well, we don't believe because well, this is just another condemnation You know from the federal government until we get to see, you know proper action Isn't that the same thing with the IPOB simply putting out the statement and then folding its arms to watch criminals take charge of the southeast Well, I have read two releases or three or three made by IPOB leadership Which by my power for the first person That they have suspended sit-atum Even the family of Pune and the can also made a press statement to our occasion that they have suspended the sit-atum But the people as most of them are saying no We will not agree until we see our leader Some of them are saying you see some video moving around that their leaders have noted them not to sit at home That the legacies have collected money from The governors and all that to tell them to go about enough for business and people must sit at home until they can list Okay, most of them who are doing this Might be members or whatever But the leadership have made a statement even the family have made a statement and said people should go about a lot for business That there is examination why is that mission going on? They wouldn't be a part of The report that was practical from writing the way examinations So I don't that statement they made so I believe that statement So mr. Eben, I'm ready. It's online. Okay, mr. Eben I wanted to ask you questions, you know that poke on the motive for this sit-atum order in the first place So they're saying that they want in Namdi Kano to be released in Namdi Kano has been arrested and has been in a custody of the bss Yes They're saying that they want to hear him into the not the staton before they would believe it Well, we know of that story, but his lawyers have said where they are They're not allowed to record him, you know speaking or anything like that. So People in the southeast already know that they would not be hearing from Namdi Kano to for the notice But my question is They're saying that they want in Namdi Kano to be released by the dss They want him back home and free and the way they're going about it is a staton at home order that is now hurting the economy Of southeasterners and even doing more harm than good I mean david who had my governor of eboni states has a scrap that sit at home order as the worst thing that has ever happened to the southeast So what i'm saying is Since it seems that this sit-atum order isn't working to achieve their aim at you know making sure that namdi kano is released Don't you think they should abandon this find another solution? You know, maybe Consider what they earlier started with the british government trying to get namdi kano out because this rote of sit-at-home order Doesn't seem to be working Well, I I didn't get to a question very clear I am saying that would you suggest that these IPOB abandon this sit-atum order as a route to get to the release of namdi kano If they abandon it if they need to abandon it and seek other alternatives To you know agitating for the release of namdi kano I didn't get the question. She warwick. Um Good luck. Even can you hear me? Yes, I can hear you now. All right. So my co anchor is asking Do you think that the IPOB should have a change of tactics seeing that the sit-atum order is not going to get namdi kano released? It will not get him released Only political solution can get him released She's an atom. I don't see any how to work to make him to be released Yeah, so so do you think that do you think that they should have a different tactic instead? Yeah, they should have a different pattern They should have a different order means political legal means or international Contact or whatever to release him I'm talking about releasing him. Do you know if the IPOB or IPOB are aware that you know He's facing trial and he has to face trial He has to answer for all the crimes that he has been charged with So you won't just release him because you locked down the southeast. That's really not how law works Do you do you think these people are aware of the standards when it comes to legal procedures? Well, most of them are aware some of them are not aware But the truth of the matter is the anger of the people Are used on in the manner. He was arrested They are their anger is that it was not arrested According to the law This arrest was the kind of extraordinary Reduction So that is one of the things that is making the IPOB members to be very angry All right. Good luck. You've been Thank you very much for joining us and for speaking with us this morning. Thank you Thank you You know just before I think you know, it's it's pretty much the same thing that I've said, you know with regards all of this it's really just One of the things that he mentioned was seeing that the governors Political and traditional leaders In the southeast You may not even call them leaders anymore because they do not have the ears of people in the southeast, obviously There's also a failure of the federal government and you know, I said it to mr Chris Wanda that it might have even started to even look like it's intentional to ignore These demands in the southeast people want to go about on monday. You have security agencies at your disposal You don't use them you instead just you know turn your face the other way So that it's starting to look like it's intentional to even leave, you know, the you know the southeast that way every monday But the main point for me is that the IPOB has seen over time That they have this power And that's what they're enjoying So when they give these orders they give these orders for any reason whatsoever They bought a bottle of what I wasn't too cold sit at home next week monday You know someone's dog died sit at home next week monday They give these orders Just because and they've seen the euphoria they felt the the the sweetness of power that they have over the southeast And that's why they continue to give these orders. They know that they can't achieve anything with it It's even counterproductive. They know You know and one of the questions that I asked a friend of mine a few days ago was at what point the people of the southeast then decided Okay, we are done with this Um, and we're no longer going to be sitting at home if the government isn't going to be there for us we'll be there for ourselves We've seen more people who dare to do that face. No, they are wears were destroyed The truck yesterday was burned. They probably were just unfortunate But if the whole of the southeast says to themselves that on monday we're coming out They will come out and a Little van of six ipob members is not going to shut the whole southeast down I'm not I don't want to call for violence or anarchy or anything. Anyway We'll take a short break when we come back. It is um international day of clean air for blue skies And we'll be talking about that right after the short break