THE controversial factional leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, Simon Ekpa, based in Finland, has been issuing threats that elections would not hold in the South East region unless the leader of IPoB, Mazi Nnamadi Kanu, being detained by the Federal Government despite court orders in his favour, is released. This is a legitimate and welcome demand from Ekpa. Ndigbo as whole want to see Kanu released.
However, Ekpa’s call is suspicious because of his antecedents. Ekpa, it seems, believes in violence as the only tool to achieve Biafra. This is evident in the violence that trailed all the sit-at-home he declared. His group, autopilot seems to be populated by criminals who unleash mayhem on their people at any slightest signal from him.
That is why a trending rumour that a rich and powerful politician running for the presidency has given him millions of dollars to disrupt the election activities in the South East region is not being ignored.
It is suspected that he will call for sit-at-home in the election weeks to instill fear on the people and thwart the election in the region for the good of his alleged paymasters. Ndigbo are ready to participate actively in the election and are taking various proactive measures to counter any plot by Ekpa or anybody else to disrupt the election.
Elections’ll hold in Igbo land in 2023 — Ohanaeze
As part of the arrangement to ensure that the coming elections hold in Igbo land against the plot by Ekpa and his cohorts to sabotage it, the Council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, met recently and deliberated on some strategies to ensure that elections hold in the South East. At the meeting, Iwuanyanwu was mandated by eminent Igbo to meet with the South East Governors led by Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and other critical stake holders in the zone with a view of ensuring peace during the elections.
In the words of the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Alex Ogbonnia: “I am very optimistic that the strategies outlined will achieve the desired result. It was agreed that some youths in the South East who have not keyed into the ongoing wind of change in the country will be engaged and enlightened on the benefits the South East stands to derive from the 2023 general elections. So, I am confident that with time, the youths will see reasons for the election to hold.
“Another reason that bolsters my confidence in the success of the election is that Mr. Peter Obi has shown capacity, sagacity, vision, competence, track record of accomplishments, ingenuity and detribalized patriotic dispositions. These are the Obi contagious characteristics that with time more people will be gravitated to him. In other words, the Obi charisma, hope, followership and support are the major countervailing force that will ultimately overwhelm the current encumbrances.”
Govs, monarchs, town unions should provide enough security for the elections —Ezeife
Igbo elder and former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, is very hopeful that elections would hold in all Igbo land and he has tasked both governors, the traditional rulers, town union leaders and village heads to ensure adequate security for a hitch-free elections.
“We are very much aware that some enemies of Ndigbo are working round the clock to disrupt the 2023 general elections because they know that if the exercise is allowed to go on unhindered, it will end in favour of Peter Obi of the Labour Party; but if they scuttle it, confusion will envelop the country and only themselves know what they stand to benefit from such confusion.
“Therefore, it is imperative for our governors, traditional rulers and town union leaders to ensure adequate mobilization of their various vigilante operatives to complement the efforts of security agencies in providing adequate security throughout the election days”.
READ ALSO: Sit-at-home: Are you a hero or villain, Ohanaeze asks Simon Ekpa
The President-General of Aborji Akanano Union, Oba, Idemili South council, Anambra State, Nze Dozie Nweke, said his community has been fortified with adequate security network to ensure that elections in the area take place in a peaceful atmosphere.
Simon Ekpa is a paid agent for continued insecurity in S-East—Prof. Igwe
An academia and Professor of Political Science, Obasi Igwe was bitter with the activities of Simon Ekpa, describing him as an agent paid to ruin Igbo land. He alleged that Ekpa was paid by the federal government and some powerful politicians to ensure that the sinister insecurity and state-sponsored terrorism in the region festers.
Prof. Igwe however urged the sponsors of both known Fulani herdsmen and unknown gunmen to give peace a chance and “stop further orchestrated atrocities and allow the Igbo to peacefully join other Nigerians and participate in the elections”.
“Simon Ekpa is almost certainly a 100% agent of the state here, abroad or both; he is in their payroll to help them continue to build a sinister case for a continued state-sponsored insecurity and chaos in the East, to enable them rig the elections through a fear-induced minimized participation among Easterners.
“The Igbo are eager to participate in the elections and resume their relatively peaceful lives deliberately destroyed by federal “kinetics.
Simon Ekpa must retrace his steps”, Igwe said.
Vanguard
