Abuja, Jan. 28, 2026 (NAN) Rep. Obi Aguocha (LP-Abia) has called for caution and wide stakeholders’ consultations on the move to halt “Monday sit-at-home” in the South-East geo-political zone.
Aguocha, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation of House Standing and Ad Hoc Committees, made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ‘Monday sit-at-Home’ is a form of protest by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) against the continuous detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government.
NAN also reports that the sit-at-home is used to force traders, small businesses, transporters as well as banks and other corporate organisations and the general public to close down and stay at home every Monday as a form of civil disobedience.
Anyone who went against the sit-at-home order to conduct any private or corporate business was often attacked by violent gunmen, with scores already killed.
NAN recalls that Gov. Charles Soludo of Anambra had instructed that full activities should resume every Monday in the state and went on to close down markets and plazas that failed to comply.
This had resulted in protests by shop owners, traders and market associations in the state.
Aguocha, who represents Ikwuano/Umuahia North/ Umuahia South Federal House Constituency of Abia, said that efforts were ongoing to restore normalcy and that results were already manifesting until the recent pronouncement by the governor.
“Over the last three years, many markets, plazas and shopping centres across the South-East have gradually returned to normalcy, operating freely and unencumbered.
“I have worked tirelessly in this direction, and peace was steadily returning to our rural and commercial trading centres.
“The governor’s well-intentioned effort to end the sit-at-home has, however, been executed in the most unconstructive and unacceptable manner.
“It has re-ignited embers of fear, hardened resistance and resurrected old resentments which, if left unchecked, could plunge us into uncharted waters of renewed violence, serious crimes and widespread criminality across the South-East,” he said.
Aguocha said that private business owners could not be forced, punished or compelled to close or open their shops, or to trade or refrain from trading.
According to him, such decisions fall squarely within their fundamental rights and are not governed by any state, labour or market-union relationship.
The lawmaker, however, called for release of Kanu, reforms to improve electoral and criminal justice systems and balance of power and development between the South-East and other geo-political zones to end agitations in the South-East.
Aguocha pledged to discharge this responsibility with every measure of strength and wisdom at his disposal, guided by hope, concerns and sustained prayers of the people.
He urged the people in the zone to remain calm and not engage in destruction of lives and property. (NAN)
