IPOB Makes U-Turn, Says It Didn’t Call For Boycott Of Anambra Governorship Election

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied calling for a boycott of the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 6.

KanyiDaily recalls that IPOB had declared a one week sit-at-home protest in the South-East, starting from November 5, the evening of Anambra governorship election.

The IPOB, which said the protest was aimed at prevailing on the Nigerian government to release Nnamdi Kanu, vowed that the South-East would be locked down for one-week if its leader was not released before November 4.

The development prompted Nigerians, including socio-cultural organisations to appeal to IPOB to suspend its sit-at-home protest due to the Anambra election.

Reacting in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, IPOB said it did not call for the boycott of the election and has not asked anyone to impose the sit-at-home order.

The group said it has no business with any election and is only interested in the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who has been illegally detained since his rendition to Nigeria.

We Never Called For Boycott Of Anambra Election – IPOB

The statement read, “We are the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We wish to correct some misconceptions, unfounded speculations and outright falsehood concerning our position on the forthcoming November 6 governoship election in Anambra State.

“First of all, we wish to reiterate that IPOB did not at any time issue any order or call for the boycott of the said election contrary to misconceptions in certain quarters. In fact, IPOB has nothing to do with Anambra election. Nobody should therefore link us with the election. The freedom of our Leader is what matters to us and we don’t need distractions.

“The priority of IPOB is to secure the unconditional release of our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who has been illegally detained since his rendition to Nigeria. All we said was that if by November 4 those who abducted, renditioned and illegally detained him fail to release him unconditionally, Biafrans shall embark on civil disobedience of one week sit-at-home beginning from November 5 to November 10.

“This action has nothing to do with Anambra election. As a matter of fact, we are not concerned if anyone wishes to participate or not to participate in Anambra election. But our only advice to Ndi Anambra especially those contemplating to vote is to be very careful about their security.

“Thirty-four (34) thousand police officers excluding the Army, Civil Defence, DSS and other security personnel have been moved down to Biafraland for an election or for a continuation of mass massacre of our people young and old?

“The Nigerian security personnel are using every opportunity to commit mayhem in Biafraland and then turn around to point accusing fingers at IPOB. We are alerting our people and the international community that our enemies are already using this election period as another opportunity to kill our people and blame it on IPOB.

“If anyone is not sure of his or her safety then it is better to stay away from danger than to go and die for useless and greedy politicians who have no modicum of regard for the suffering and life of the poor masses.

“We want to categorically state that IPOB has not asked anybody to monitor or enforce compliance to any sit-at-home as this is unnecessary because Biafrians willingly and consciously obey IPOB’s call for Sit-At-Home.

“Our people are all fed up with their suffering and oppressive conditions imposed upon us by the contraption called Nigeria and do not need any persuasion to do the needful.

IPOB Denies Calling For Lockdown, Closure Of Hotels

IPOB also stated that it had not asked anyone to enforce sit-at-home orders adding that a voice note purportedly emanating from it, which warned hoteliers in Anambra State to close their doors, is false.

The group said, “We also wish to totally dissociate IPOB from a viral voice note warning hotel owners in Anambra to shut down from November 4. The said voice note never emanated from IPOB.

“It’s another handiwork of our oppressors in their desperation to implicate IPOB. We therefore, urge members of the public to discountenance such rubbish. IPOB under Nnamdi Kanu is not the author.

“That voice note ordering all hotels in Anambra State to shut down must stop. We now order all our volunteers to unravel the monster behind this wicked voice note. It’s now very obvious that some traitors are out to demonise IPOB.

“Our people should know that the enemies in collaboration with some traitors and desperate politicians are coming up with various pranks and antics to cause confusion in our midst and possibly scuttle our struggle for independence.

“We, therefore, warn that anybody caught trying to use the name of IPOB to foment trouble in Anambra State or any part of Biafra land will regret his or her actions. IPOB has never told anybody or group to boycott Anambra election. We are only interested in the freedom of our leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU.

“We have through intelligence, observed that some desperate politicians are sponsoring some hoodlums and miscreants to use IPOB’s name to dish out statements capable of creating confusion in their desperate attempt to pitch this great movement against our people.

“It is important to note and re-emphasise that IPOB has its channels of information dissemination, and any information purportedly coming from IPOB that is not passed through these channels is fake and should be disregarded. The public should stop linking us with any trash that doesn’t have the authority of IPOB Spokesperson.

“We still call on the federal government of NIGERIA to release our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally. He commited no crime to justify his illegal detention while Fulani bandits, terrorists, and mass murderers are busy having fun in the North.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Anambra police command has imposed a total lockdown from Thursday ahead of the November 6th Anambra guber election.