Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has claimed that the late call-off of the election boycott declared by its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, forced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and government in power to postpone the scheduled election.
Kanu, had on Thursday night, called-off the boycott order and urged IPOB members and people of South East and South South zone to go out and cast their votes.
A statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, said that the late call-off the election boycott forced INEC to postpone the election for one week. He said: “The move by IPOB apex leadership to call off the boycott made it virtually impossible for APC administration to proceed to rig the elections on the account that IPOB boycotted the polls. It is now clear for the world to see that some nefarious elements within the corridors of power in Aso Rock wanted so desperately for IPOB to boycott these elections in order to justify their already perfected script that our boycott made it possible for them to emerge victorious.
“By calling off the boycott, Buhari and his cabal lost the initiative and were headed straight for defeat. Our leader, Kanu, is light years ahead of the intrigues and machinations that characterise politics in Nigeria. Had the leadership of our great movement IPOB not called off the boycott, the sham elections would have proceeded as rigged with Buhari announced as the winner on account that IPOB boycotted the exercise.”
There seems to be some sense in this or better sense than what INEC has been bandying. How can logistics occasioned by weather (stop aircraft landing at Enugu be believed?) – A probing mind will ask if INEC, with its huge budget and alive with importance of the day, not working with NIMET and other Weather Agencies of government. Is Weather forecast a rule of thumb in this Century? Who do they think they are deceiving? IPOBs angle looks more credible because the population of Igbo’s across Nigeria is intimidating and the ruling party for sure understands the the impact Igbos votes will have when they decide to vote in one direction. The jittery on the part of APC and the presidency is quite understandable, but they have only themselves to blame for deliberately excluding Igbo nation in their administration and government patronage with impunity and stubbornness. It will be foolhardy to hope to attempt rigging election in places where Igbo voters are present anywhere in the country.