Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has urged Igbos across the South-East geopolitical zone to rise up and save the economy of the region from extinction.

This is as Governor Umahi, who doubles as Chairman, South-East Governors Forum, noted that Southerners were not coming out on Mondays in observance to the Sit-At-Home order handed down by the Indigenous People of Biafra because of obedience, but out of fear.

Governor Umahi stated this during the Ground breaking ceremony for the construction of Bishop Micheal N. Okoro Flyover, in Abakaliki, on Tuesday.

Umahi, who further said his heart had been broken by alleged efforts being made by some people to destroy and disrupt the economy of South-East, added that any civil servant or contractor in Ebonyi State that failed to come to work on Mondays will forfeit his position.

According to Umahi, “My heart is broken because of efforts by some people to destroy the economy of South-East. I was talking to a ministry that was to come to Ebonyi State, to perform a very wonderful economic function and they met and said Ebonyi State is a danger zone, because of insecurity. And this is the same thing in all South-East states.

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“We do not know what we are doing to ourselves. I got a text message, which circulated, that says the only way to assuage the killing of many Igbos, is to kill more. That’s what a human being was circulating. Another one was saying we work Tuesday and Wednesday, that we should give out Mondays. This is very horrible.

“The South-East people must rise up to say to this madness. Have we ever thought of how we have been killing ourselves in the name of fighting for ourselves? This is very dangerous, until we rise up to say no.

“And I say any civil servant, contractor or anybody who fails to come to work on Mondays will forfeit his or her position.

“We can’t fold our hands, in our time, and allow South-East to be destroyed. Let’s really think of those who say they are fighting for us. Think about them whether they are fighting for us or fighting for themselves. Igbo man is not known for killing Igbo man and we brand it unknown gunmen. What nonsense is that ?

“Security agencies must rise up to the occasion and do the needful. Security agencies in the state and at the national should be in the streets to defend our people. You have enough security to protect our people. People are not coming on Mondays because of obedience; they are not coming out, just because of fear. So, come out and defend our people.”