Governor Hope Uzodinma says that the Indigenous People of Biafra has no authority to order Imo state residents to sit-at-home.

The governor explained that only the state government can make such orders and ask people to stay away from their businesses.

Mr Uzodimma disclosed this after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

Speaking with the state’s correspondents in Abuja, Mr Uzodinma said the residents of the state who depend on daily income can not obey the order.

“IPOB is not a government in Imo State and cannot order people to sit at home,” Punch newspaper quoted Mr Uzodinma to have said.

“I came to meet the president. This is the opportunity to also brief him on the situation in my state, viz-a-viz operations and activities on insecurity.

“In Imo State, it is not being observed. People are doing their businesses. Most people in Imo are businessmen and women who depend on their daily activities and income to feed their families.

“So, they cannot afford to sit at home idle and allow hunger to ravage the state,” the Imo governor said.

Mr Uzodinma said that Imo State is a calm and peaceful place for citizens to operate their businesses without any molestation adding that the security operatives have improved in securing the state.

He warned Nigerians to avoid issues that could cause instability, adding that citizens should not take the law into their own hands. 

“Imo is relatively very calm now; people are going about their business without any molestation. The security agencies have risen to the occasion. And the new Imo is bubbling,” he added.

Mr Uzodimma said, that the federal government have approved three projects in the state to counter climate issues in the state.

“Yes, last time I spoke with you, I did tell you that part of my requests to Mr President was to intervene on some ecological issues in the state. To the glory of God, Mr President graciously approved it.

“As I speak to you, contracts for three erosion sites will be awarded any moment from now. And then Mr President has also approved the release of funds for payment to the contractors. So, it is a good one.”

On May 31, IPOB issued a sit-at-home order in the South-East region to commemorate the death of thousands died during the civil war between 1967 to 1970.