IPOB gives reason for election boycott

The separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, has said
it has asked its members not to participate in the forthcoming
general elections because Nigeria has been “hijacked” by a single
ethnic group, the Fulani.

In a statement issued on Monday by the spokesman for the
outlawed group, Emma Powerful, IPOB enjoined the supporters and
lovers of Biafra to boycott the 2019 general elections, saying it
was the only way for them to show the world that they were serious
in their agitation to ensure the emergence of a sovereign
Biafra.

The statement reads, “It is important we notify our people,
mostly politicians, clergymen and women who strongly believe in
rebuilding one Nigeria to retrace their steps because the Nigerian
government has been hijacked by Fulani people.

“Our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, during his weekly radio Biafra
broadcast from the holy land of Israel on Saturday evening
reaffirmed strongly to the people and gullible Nigerians who still
doubt our stand towards boycotting the forthcoming presidential
election next month. It is crystal clear that one of our major
lethal weapons to achieve this present Biafra demand is civil
disobedience. Therefore, we urge Biafrans, both home and abroad, to
advise their families not to vote and totally boycott this coming
election no matter the level of promises and inducement politicians
of these days might have given them.”

The group accused the South-East governors, Okezie Ikpeazu,
David Umahi and Willie Obiano, and the Igbo apex socio-cultural
organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo of conspiring with the Federal
Government to bring in Operation Python Dance to frighten the
people to trigger panic, apprehension and fear.

“It is in the light of recent distortion, twist and adulterated
truth and propaganda against IPOB decision by unscrupulous
individuals, groups and politicians in our land that prompted our
supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to come on air last week Saturday
to state unequivocally without mincing words the position of IPOB
in Abia and Ebonyi states gubernatorial elections, come next
month.

“The potency of our agitation for Biafra will be made clear for
all to see. We remain unwavering and determined as ever to bring
this divine and ordained mission to its successful conclusion. Our
freedom is paramount; therefore ongoing politically-motivated
abductions, high levels of humiliation, intimidation, arrest,
massacre and sponsored propaganda against a peaceful group like
IPOB will not shake our resolve, instead it will make us stronger,”
the statement adds.