Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state said on Tuesday that the sit-at-home protest by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was one of the beauties of democracy that guarantees freedom of expression and assembly.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a close-door meeting with the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Ikpeazu said government offices and agencies in the state opened while businessmen and women complied with the directive either to show solidarity to IPOB or to avoid falling victims to hoodlums.
“You know the beauty of democracy is that there is freedom of expression and we also have the freedom of gathering and meeting. My experience in that area is that we have two major cities in Abia, Umuahia quiet.
“Aba is calm also. Government offices and agencies opened but is up to businessmen to either open their shops or close them at will. Two reasons, one some people want to comply and the second reason is that a few people will want to close their shops for fear that hoodlums may hijack the exercise to loot. So in all, as long as no life is lost, as long as nobody is molested, as long as lives and properties are secured is okay. That’s my assessment of it,” he said.
On the impact of ease of doing business, Ikpeazu said Abia is one of the first states that set up a structure for the ease of doing business.
“Today, you can set up industry in less than one week I assure you. You will get your C of O because if we get a wind either by direct contact that anybody wants to do business in Abia, we will come to the airport and pick you up and will personally usher you in through that one stop shop. So that all that you need to know, land acquisition, licensing will be made available to you.
“We see our potential business partners as the oxygen that will drive the economic life of Abia state going forward and we are prepared to hold them and make sure you establish without stress,” he said.
