The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged Imo residents to ignore the sit-at-home order on election day but come out en masse to vote for the governorship candidate of their choice on Saturday.

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, made the call in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Iwuanyanwu said he was informed some people issued threats prohibiting Imo people from coming out to vote by issuing a total sit-at-home order from November 9 to 12.

“As the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, I wish to appeal to all the Imo people to turn out en masse to cast their votes for any candidate of their choice. If Imo people should comply with this, there will be no election in Imo state and that will create chaos,” said the Ohaneze leader.

Mr Iwuanyanwu added, “I am, therefore, with every sense of responsibility and love, appealing to the leader of this group to rescind his decision to order a sit-at-home.”

The Igbo leader stated that it was necessary to sound the notice and warning because Igboland had had enough bloodshed. According to him, the Igbo people fought a civil war which took the lives of millions of people and brought incalculable losses in property.

“We do not want a situation whereby any part of Igboland will be exposed to any type of destructive violence. As a father, I prefer a peaceful resolution of all problems. I prefer a non-kinetic approach. It is my belief that all disputes are best resolved over a round-table dialogue,” Mr Iwuanyanwu explained.

“Bloodshed and destruction of our property cannot be a solution,” Mr Iwuanyanwu stressed.

The Ohanaeze president-general described the allegation that President Bola Tinubu accused Governor Hope Uzodimma of persuading him not to release IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu from incarceration as false.

“As the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, I have investigated this matter and found it to be false and malicious in its entirety. Uzodimma never held such a meeting with President Tinubu. To the contrary, I have held discussions with Uzodimma and the other four governors of the South-East, and they all were firmly and irrevocably committed to the release of Nnamdi Kalu from incarceration,” the Igbo leader explained.

He added, “May I also mention that on July 10, I held a meeting in Abuja with the speakers of state houses of assembly, members of the National Assembly, the state governors and select leaders from the South-East and all of them unanimously agreed that Ohanaeze should work towards the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu.

“On that occasion, I was directed as the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to secure an appointment with President Bola Tinubu on this subject. I want to confirm that I have already written to Mr President requesting a meeting with the leaders of the South-East and I believe I will be given this opportunity soon.”

Mr Iwuanyanwu pointed out that Ohanaeze, “speaking for the entire Igbo, is of the opinion that our son Kanu should be released from incarceration, especially when a court of competent jurisdiction has already ordered his release.”

Mr Iwuanyanwu appealed to “all those concerned to consider it a patriotic duty to rescind the call for a total sit-at-home and also the directive for instant murder of people who violate the sit-at-home order.”

“The information reaching Ohaneze Ndigbo is that a directive has been issued for some homes to be destroyed. I want to believe that this is an ordinary rumour because it is not in our character,” he stated.

The Igbo leader requested all Igbos, aggrieved one way or the other, to sheathe their swords and accept peaceful negotiation.

“I am therefore making a passionate appeal to all those concerned to have a ceasefire to give us the opportunity to look into the matter. I regard everybody in Igboland as my child,” said Mr Iwuanyanwu. “I therefore consider it a duty to protect everybody’s interest to the best of my ability.” 

(NAN)