BIAFRA! Igbo Leader Attacks Nnamdi Kanu For Fixing Referendum On Election Day
The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been condemned by the acting National Chairman of the United Patriots, Chukwudi Ezeobika, over his call for a referendum on Biafra on February 16 to coincide with the presidential election.
Ezeobika, in a statement on Saturday, said the call was irresponsible, unpatriotic and misplaced.
Kanu had on several fora urged the people of the South East to boycott the 2019 presidential election and instead use the day to push for the actualization of Biafra.
Concise News understands that Kanu who resurfaced in Jerusalem, Israel, October 19, 2018, said the federal government must conduct a referendum for the Igbos to determine whether they want to be part of Nigeria or not.
Recall that IPOB had said the election boycott will be a statement of intent about the Biafran struggle.
Reacting to the IPOB leader’s call, Ezeobika said being aware of the deplorable state of affairs in Nigeria under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress government, it was disturbing for anyone to encourage the Igbo to boycott the general elections especially the Presidential and National Assembly elections in place of a referendum.
He said, “The consequence of this unfortunate call for a referendum by Nnamdi Kanu cannot be overemphasized hence my genuine call on all Igbo wherever they are in Nigeria to jettison this irresponsible call and turn out en masse to vote for a presidential candidate of their choice come February 16.
“It is very important to note that this call for a referendum during elections is neither in the overall interest of the Igbo nor advantageous in any way to the political life of the Igbo as their political strength will further be diminished if they heed such irresponsible call to boycott the general elections.’’
He added that the South-East being the region with the lowest registered voters in the country at the moment, the Igbo across the country must seize the opportunity to display higher wisdom and not be fooled by individuals who placed personal interests above the collective interest of the Igbo.
Ezeobika stated, “With the emergence of Mr Peter Obi as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate, there is indeed a need to look beyond the present and concentrate more on the things that unite us as a nation than the things that tear us apart.”