Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has said that the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was possible because of democracy.
Ikpeazu said this while addressing State House correspondents, after a meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday.
The Governor said the compliance could be either to show solidarity with IPOB, or to avoid falling victims to miscreants “who might want to take advantage of the situation”.
Ikpeazu added: “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 was 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 property are secured, it is okay. That’s my assessment of it.”
