By Adadareporters
The president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has condemned calls to boycott the Imo guber polls scheduled for Nov 11.
Iwuanyanwu stated this in a release he personally signed. According to him, “I wish to appeal to all the Imo people to turn out en masse to cast their votes for any candidate of their choice. I have been told that some people have issued threats prohibiting Imo people from coming out to cast their votes. I understand that this group has issued a total sit-at-home order from November 9, to November 12, 2023. If Imo people should comply to this, there will be no election in Imo State and that will create chaos.
“I appeal to the leader of this group to rescind his decision. I have found it very necessary to sound this warning because we in Igboland have had enough of bloodshed. We fought a civil war which took the lives of millions of our people and also incalculable losses in property.
“We do not want a situation whereby any part of Igboland will be exposed to any type of destructive violence. I had earlier made my point on this issue very clear. As a father, I prefer a peaceful resolution of all problems. I prefer a non-kinetic approach. It is my belief that all disputes are best resolved over a round table dialogue. Bloodshed and destruction of our property cannot be a solution.”
He also clarified the recent online publication claiming that President Bola Tinubu declared that Imo governor Hope Uzodinma was blocking the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
In his words, “Very false news is currently being circulated in the social media alleging that President Tinubu accused the governor of Imo State of persuading him not to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from incarceration. As the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, I have investigated this matter and found it to be false and malicious in its entirety.
“Governor Hope Uzodinma never held such meeting with President Tinubu. To the contrary, I have held discussions with Governor Hope Uzodinma and the other four governors of the South East, and they irrevocably committed to the release of Nnamdi Kalu from incarceration.
“On Monday July 10, 2023, I held a meeting in Abuja with the speakers of state Houses of Assembly, members of National Assembly, the state governors and select leaders from the South East and all of them unanimously agreed that Ohanaeze should work towards the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu.
“On that occasion, I was directed to secure an appointment with President Bola Amed Tinubu on this subject. I want to confirm that I have already written to Mr President requesting a meeting with the leaders of the South East and I believe I will be given this opportunity soon.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, speaking for the entire Igbo, is of the opinion that our son Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should be released from incarceration, especially when a court of competent jurisdiction has already ordered for his release.
“I will once more appeal to all those concerned to consider it a patriotic duty to rescind the call for a total sit at home and also the directive for instant murder of people who violate the sit-at-home-order. The information reaching Ohaneze Ndigbo is that a directive has been issued for some homes to be destroyed. I want to believe that this is an ordinary rumour because it is not in our character.
“I request all our sons and daughters who are aggrieved one way or the other to sheathe their swords and accept peaceful negotiation. Experience has shown that violence cannot resolve any problem.”
