Anambra election: Militants back Nnamdi Kanu on boycott

From: TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt

Some  Niger Delta militant groups have declared their support for the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),  Nnamdi Kanu,  that the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State,  in November, ,  by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), will not take place.

The groups, Concerned Militant Leaders (CML), Niger Delta People Democratic Front (NDPDF) and Rainbow Marabas Squad (RMS) argued that since May 30, 2016 when  soldiers allegedly massacred harmless and innocent IPOB members in some parts of the Southern states, Federal Government has remained silent over the incident.

Leaders of the groups, General Ben (CML), General Playboy (NDPDF) and General Aneaja (RMS),   after their meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday,  demanded for justice for the victims of the May 30, 2016,  Biafra Day celebration killings.

Convner of the meeting, General Ben,  stated: “Federal Government should address the injustice meted out to innocent and harmless IPOB members,  while celebrating Biafra Day.  The election in Anambra State should not hold and will not hold.  That injustice must first be addressed before any election will take place by Federal Government.

“Southern political leaders, who are romancing with Federal Government to truncate and jeopardize Biafra struggle because of the selfish aggrandizement,  will live to regret their actions because,  we will not forget them.

“Any attempt by Federal Government to take us for granted,  should be resisted.  We advise Anambrarians to boycott that election.  Any person that flouts our order does that at his or her peril.  Nobody is our target,  but don’t make yourself our target”,  the groups warned.

Reacting to the recent quit notice to the Igbo people living in the North by Arewa youths,  and the similar ultimatum by their colleagues (militants) to the Northerners in the Niger Delta, the groups said they did not see it as a threat.

According to them it was an opportunity for the Southerners to realise and address their agitations properly with zeal and commitment.

They advised Southerners,  particularly Igbo people, living in the North, not to be carried away by whatever assurances they might have received from any quarters concerning their safety,  insisting that they should heed to the order.

Ben stated: “We do not see it as a threat,  but a welcome development. It should not generate disaffection,  but should be accepted with commendation because it would give the agitators opportunity to champion their course with the necessary zeal it requires.

“In essence, the deadline should stand,  both for the South Easterners in the North, and the Northerners in the Niger Delta region and South East. And our people should return home.  Every Southern is our brother or sister,  whether from East, West or South.

“Whoever refuses to heed to this order,  will blame himself or herself for the consequences.  We have sounded the warning to our people in the North not to allow themselves to be slaughtered like before.

“This time around,  while we demand that the Igbo should obey the quit notice by Arewa boys,  we would not fold our hands and watch them (Arewa) massacre our people.  Whatever that happens to our people,  will surely have grave and regrettable consequences on the opponents,  General Ben warned.