The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, on Wednesday, warned that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has no right to stop election in Anambra state and insisted that the November18 gubernatorial election must hold as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.
He said that election will hold in the state and urged the people of the state to come out en masse to cast their votes to their choice candidates with out any fear of intimidation and harassment.
Igwe Achebe who stated this when the State leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene visited him in his palace said that the traditional institution in the state has endorsed the rotational of governorship slot to every zone just like the town Union and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have done, saying that the North should be allowed to complete the remaining fours before power will move to another zone.
According to him, “The election is for us not for the entire country. You cannot have a referendum in one part of the country without carrying other parts of the country along and the government must support and sponsor it before it will be organized and not curving out some part of the country for the referendum. The election must hold and nobody or group of persons will stop it. Nobody should come to the state to cause unnecessary tension”.
Igwe Achebe who is also the Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Ruler’s Council called on the Ndigbo in other parts of the state and country to invest at home inn order to make Igbo land an economic hub in the county.
“Our people should come home to invest in industry, factory, build schools and hospitals that will be beneficial to our people. We need non partisan strong institution to create good environment for development. I commend the new Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership both at the national and state level for their efforts within six months to unite Ndigbo” Achebe stated.
In his remarks, the State Ohanaeze Chairman, Chief Okeke-Ogene said they visited the traditional ruler to show respect and to carry the traditional institution along in whatever they do as custodian of culture in Igbo land.
“There is nothing will do without you. If there is any case that is beyond us, we will consult you for advise and possible resolution. Obi of Onitsha is bridge between the people and the government and his throne is falling point for Ndigbo, Onitsha culture is a complete and standard that other Igbo land emulates”.
He said that the group had already condemned the call by IPOB leader to boycott governorship election in the state, saying that election must hold “Nobody who fought war will like to fight again. So we should be fighting war of sense and not physical war to being Ndigbo into the main stream in the country”. – The Sun.
