By Cajetan Mmuta
Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday washed their hands off any declaration or plans to ensure that the November 6th Governorship election does not hold in Anambra state.
They insisted that the major preoccupation of the body is to ensure restoration of Biafra republic, adding the body’s strategy cannot be equated with those of Boko Haram terrorists, banditry, Fulani Herdsmen, and others which have held the northern part of the country hostage.
The Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, disclosed this in a statement he made available to newsmen in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
He described as unfounded and mere speculation the fear in some quarters that election will not hold in the state.
According to the group, “It is important to note that contrary to speculations, IPOB has not officially declared ‘no election in Anambra State.”
It pointed out that, “Our preoccupation is Biafra restoration. Anybody equating IPOB strategy with Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, and Fulani herdsmen is ignorant and mischievous.”
Also, it maintained that “Contrary to the vomit by of some inconsequential fellows, IPOB has no plans to attack South Easterners and South Southerners.”
”In the first place, violence is not part of our philosophy. Assuming we want to resort to violence, how can we attack the people whom we are fighting for?
It would be recalled that concerns have been looking large that the Anambra November 6th poll might not hold following the activities of IPOB in the five states of the South-East geo-political zone of the nation.
In addition, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, had expressed worry that the frequent sit-at-home directive by IPOB and recent burning of its facility in Awka capital town were threatening the scheduled conduct by the commission.
However, Emma Powerful said, “It does not make any sense. But we know their motive for peddling this falsehood as our intelligent report confirms the importation and stockpiling of arms from Pakistan for their planned invasion of Biafraland but we are waiting for them.”
“We are so astonished that a terrorist like Shekau without surname will be the one telling Biafran people to hate their own while he and his kinsmen openly protect their own terrorists and bandits maiming and killing them in the the entire Northern region.”
