Henry Umahi
Former governor of Imo State and governorship candidate of the Accord Party (AP), Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, has appealed to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to allow the Igbo exercise their franchise, without molestation or harassment.
Ohakim made the appeal against the backdrop of the campaign by IPOB for the South East to shun the presidential election for referendum on February 16.
He argued that inasmuch as the south easterners have been shortchanged over the years, dissuading or preventing them from participating in the elections will not solve the problem, but counter-productive.
He said: “I’m appealing to IPOB not to disrupt the elections in the South East; they should allow the elections to hold. The Igbo should be allowed to vote. We must appeal to their conscience on why they should not disrupt the elections. The elections should not be disrupted.
“No matter the injustice done to Ndigbo, they must be allowed to vote in the elections. I quite agree that there has been a lot of injustice. We’ve missed a lot. I quite agree that restructuring is necessary. I’m also a believer in this country, but, disrupting the elections this year, will not solve the problem.
“We are still part of Nigeria; we carry Nigerian passports. We answer Nigerians; we fill forms in embassies all over the world as Nigerians. So, we must participate in the elections. I want to appeal to our brothers, who are members of IPOB, to allow our people exercise their franchise.”
He also urged the group to avoid any confrontation with security agents, so that there would not be bloodshed in any part of Igboland during the exercise.
Ohakim also advised the people to conduct themselves accordingly, even as they vote wisely.
“I also want to advice Imo people that 2019 is going to be a very important year in the history of Nigeria. It is the year that restructuring of Nigeria will begin. We must send our best. We must put our best foot forward. We must send somebody who can connect; we must send somebody who has experience.
“There is no more time for experiment. Imo State cannot afford any experimentation. Any further experiment will send us down to the ditch. We need somebody who has been tasted; somebody who is trusted, somebody you know. That is my advice to my people.
“I’m their son and I’ve not let them down. I’m not greedy; I didn’t steal their land or money when the opportunity was given to me. I’ll not do so now; I’m coming to leave legacy. I’m going to be a legacy and equity governor. My governorship will resolve the succession quagmire and the people will laugh at those who carried rumours against me,” he said.