SEPARATISTS’ STRATEGY: APPRAISING THE EFFECTS OF IPOB MONDAY SIT-AT-HOME ORDER ON POLITICAL ECONOMY (SOCIO-POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES) OF THE SOUTH-EAST REGION OF NIGERIA

Abstract: The paper examined the effects of IPOB Monday sit-at-home order on political economy of the South-East region of Nigeria. Imperatively, the paper investigated the effects of IPOB Monday sit-at-home on socio-political and economic activities of the Southeast￾Nigeria in the specific areas of commercial activities; market operations, transportations, educational system, Banks, Government institutions among others. The paper is descriptive and aligned with qualitative orientations; it employed documented evidence cum secondary sources of data; majorly media publications. The data gathered were content analyzed thematically with logical reasoning while Tacoltt Parsons and David Easton’s analysis of systems theory served as a theoretical guide cum framework to the paper. Among other findings, the paper established that IPOB Monday sit-at-home has negatively affected the socio-political and economic activities of the South-East region of Nigeria. Based on these, the paper recommended an urgent need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of resources among the six (6) geo-political zones of Nigeriav via proper federal character system. More so, the Nigerian Government should try as much as possible; make quick judgment on the issue of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (the leader of IPOB) since the Monday sit-at-home order was employed as a strategy to pressure Federal Government to free him from detention. In addition, the paper recommended, power shift cum rotation (presidential post) among all the six (6) geo-political zones of Nigeria, rather being an issue of the Southern and Northern-Nigeria. All these aforementioned served as practical possible solutions on how to resolve the issue of IPOB Monday sit-at-home order and as well; restore socio-political and economic activities of the South-East region of Nigeria.

Keywords: Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB); Insecurity; Political Economy; Southeast Region; Sit-at-home