IPOB members in a demonstrationAn Abuja-based lawyer and civil rights activist, Osuagwu Ugochukwu has warned Biafra secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, against forcing people in the Southeastern part of the country to stay at home on May 30 in celebration of Biafra Day.

The activist warned the secessionist group that it will be totally wrong and unlawful for it to force people, some of who may not believe in Biafra to stay at home as IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, indicated in a statement issued on Saturday. IPOB had in the statement asked Igbo to observe the stay at home exercise on May 30 and remember their fallen heroes.

IPOB had in the statement asked Igbo to observe the stay at home exercise on May 30 and remember their fallen heroes.

But Ugochukwu warned the group may provoke the Nigerian government and the military by the move.  The lawyer said, “Nobody is against your believe in Biafra and nobody is saying you should not exercise your rights in promoting your Biafra ideology. But in doing so you must not breach the laws of the Land.

“The call by IPOB to all markets, transport companies, schools, banks, companies, civil servants, petrol stations, okada/tricycle unions, park management, artisans, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Drivers Welfare in Biafraland, to shut down on that particular day in honour and remembrance of our fallen heroes and heroines is unlawful. This is a threat to Sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigerian Constitution.

“The laws of the Land allow for freedom of movement and any attempt by any group including IPOB to force people from freely moving will be treated as treasonable, breach of public peace and confrontational which the Military and other security Agencies would not take lightly.

“IPOB has no right to restrict movement of persons and vehicles on May 30 as it is against section 41 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) which provides that Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.”