The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing Worldwide, on Thursday, urged the electorate in Imo State to ignore fugitive separatist Simon Ekpa and his misguided Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), but rather go out en-masse to participate in Saturday’s governorship election.
The Acting National Youth Leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, made this call while speaking with journalists in Owerri on the November 11, Imo governorship election.
He was accompanied by Chief Johnbosco Onunkwo, Grand Patron Ohanaeze Ndigbo Ndigbo Worldwide- Youth wing; Comrade Innocent Nduanya, Deputy President, National Youth Council of Nigeria(NYCN), Comrade Chidi Nzekwe, Coordinator, NANS Zone F.
Others aere Mazi Wenceslaus Ogbonnia- Assistant National Youth Leader, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Comrade Chidi Ilogebe- Former NANS President, Comrade Chika Nzelu, Chairman, NANS Stakeholders forum Southeast, Mazi Imaga Eke Imaga – State Youth Leader.
According to them, on the said order by Simon Ekpa led pro-Biafra group, that there would be no election in Imo, they rejected it saying: “We call on Ndigbo and Nigerians in South East to ignore the call to sit at home by one Simon Ekpa who reside in Finland, issuing unsolicited directives. We also want to send a strong warning to him and his cohorts as we are mindful of the threats, and therefore admonish them to desist from such incitement and other barbaric utterances that has contributed to the Security challenges we encounter in South East Nigeria.”
On the face-off between the Imo State government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which led to the assault on the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, they said: “We must not fail to condemn in totality the assault and attack on the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero, by some alleged Imo unionists. This is unacceptable and totally defies the tenets of Ddmocracy. We, therefore, call on the relevant authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book, to deter such barbarism, rather than let it to be swept under the carpet. We commiserate with our brother and friend, Joe Ajaero and the entire leadership of NLC.
“We humbly appeal to NLC to reconsider the threat for a national action starting from November 14, 2023, and to sheath their sword as the innocent Nigerians are at the receiving end.
“However, justified and lawful this action might be, we are very much concerned about the adverse effect on our fragile Society and the unhealthy economy.”
On the issue of the November 11, 2023 Imo governorship election, the Igbo group said: “We the Igbo youths, through our indigenous and widespread structures, have sensitized our people especially the youths to come out en masse and peacefully conduct themselves while discharging their civic responsibility.
“As accredited observers, we have also set up our control room here in Owerri, from where we shall monitor the exercise and collate intelligence from all the 305 wards in Imo State.
“We must admonish the recruited adhoc staff of INEC especially the collation and Returning Officers, who are the field Soldiers to conduct themselves properly.
“We want to also use this medium to commend the INEC Chairman and Inspector General of Police, and heads of other security agencies for the level of preparedness and resilience for a peaceful, credible and successful election in Imo State come Saturday, November 11, 2023.
“However, we commend the Government of Imo State for the level playing ground provided for all candidates, irrespective of party, during the campaign period; and that this singular act contributed immensely to the rancour and violence free campaign across the State,” he said.