‘We have kissed empty Mondays goodbye’ — Mbah on IPOB sit-at-home in Enugu

By Adegboyega Adeleye Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah says residents have overcome the fear that kept roads and communities quiet on Mondays during the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) sit-at-home campaign, pointing to security measures along key routes in the state. Mbah spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign flag-off in Nsukka on Wednesday, saying the change meant people could travel without the fear of attacks that had previously disrupted movement.

“The other thing that reminds me is that we have kissed empty Mondays goodbye. All the challenges we had travelling on that road because of fear of attack, today, we have kissed it goodbye,” he said. The sit-at-home was initially called by IPOB in 2021 in solidarity with its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Although the order was later suspended in 2026, fear of attacks continued to keep businesses and public activity subdued on some Mondays.

Mbah said the state deployed its “distress response squad” along the route, rather than setting up roadblocks, and asked residents of Nsukka, Enugu West and Enugu East to watch for changes around them. “We do not have roadblocks, but we have the watchful eyes of our distress response squad across the entire stretch. So, Nsukka, Ndi Enugu West, Ndi Enugu East, maybe we should even start with Nsukka: what is changing around you?” the governor said.

He urged residents to see the area’s development as evidence of transformation. “Can you just look around and you can see it? This is transformation,” Mbah added.