From: Chuks Onuoha, Umuahia
Composer of the famous All Hail Biafra anthem, which is being used today by all pro-Biafran groups, Chief Charles Okereke, has urged everyone affected by the struggle for the realisation of the state of Biafra to actively participate in elections and referendum that was organised in Nigeria.
He explained that the glaring reality has shown that the social, security and political atmospheres in Nigeria needed urgent and critical attention and review.
Okereke, who is also the publisher of Masterweb, one of Africa’s foremost online news media, gave this advice in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, while holding a press conference.
He said that he composed the famous All Hail Biafran anthem, at the end of the Nigerian/Biafran civil war in 1970, adding that if good people refused to come out to vote during elections, corrupt politicians would have the chance to take control of the nation’s economy, and those being owed six months salary, would be owed one to two years salary.
“If you don’t vote-in somebody that will work for you and the people, bunch of criminals might be re-elected and they will come into office and owe you one year salary. It is the constitution that attracts dishonest and bad people to participate in election . Good people get scared that they might get killed because they are in minority, but bad people have touts everywhere that give them support”, Okereke said.
He explained that there are still honest people in the society, “but they are silent because they are in minority . When you don’t vote and dishonest people are voted in, if you are being owed two months salary before the election, they will end up owing you up to one or two years when they come into the office”, he stated..
“Today , even with the bailout loans, some of the state governments have refused to pay their workers”, Okoreke said , adding, “As an individual, I have one voice and one vote, and I am not in a position to tell people what they must do neither am I telling people to secede, no ! That is an issue that all people must decide which is the reason why we have elections and referendum.
“In election, you are voting for people that will represent you, so when peope are agitating, the representatives should be carried along . They must have made promises of what they would do for the people if elected. So those who liked what they promised would vote for them , but if they refuse to fulfill their campaign promises, the people might consider recalling them or not even not voting for them during another election”.
He said that he is not a member of Indigenous people of Bifra, IPOB, nor any other pro-Biafran group. “I don’t have any link with them, I know them as I know you, I don’t belong to any of the organizations. What I believe is that people have right to self-determination, to ask for whatever they want, I am not involved in Biafram activities, the song I composed, if you go through the history, it outdated Uwazurike. Its subtitle , “Cry of a Biafran Child” has nothing to do with one Nigeria, or a broken up Nigeria, it is the people that will decide that.Where I differ from the agitators of Biafra is that they are doing what they are doing without the backing of their representatives. Their representatives are suppose to organize them for the agitation, “But the irony is that even our representatives here oppress us.
“From our Local Governments headquarters. For instance, you come into Umuahia North Area and park your car, without any sign of no parking, you see a van blocking you and rough-looking people in mufti emerging from the blues to ask you why you park your car there, and you tell them that you did not see any no parking sign, and want to move out your car, they would block you hold you to ransom, demand money or else they would tow your vehicle into the Local Government headquarters where you will pay N10,000 for the release. People doing this are not from the Federal Government, those owing you arrears of ten months and those that would not pay peoples gratuity are our own representatives,” Okereke said further.
He said that he was aware that our own representatives, people we voted into power are also marginalising us.
“They are nothing but oppressors, even Road safety corps, asking you for Fire Extinguisher , when you have a flat tire are oppressors. People are burning refuse along the express way that may lead to accident, and somebody is asking you for Fire extinguisher, they are just oppressors,” Okereke said.
When I am saying that people should participate for election, it is for our own good. They cannot say that they will not participate in what is happening around them, that they are not going to eat, drink or have babies until Biafra comes. If you don’t participate the incoming government might be worst that the one here now. If you cannot eat, get a job, how would you be able o pursue self determination. What I am saying is that people must participate in all elections, including referendum and Anambra election. If you don’t do that crooks and touts will govern you. END