Asari Dokubo Dares IPOB, Says Anambra Election Must Hold

The De Facto Customary Government of Biafra led by the former Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo, has declared that the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State must be allowed to hold as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Head of Information and Communication of the group, Uche Okafor-Mefor, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday urging the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) not to deny the people of the state their right to vote.

The group said the sit-at-home order by IPOB was “criminal” while also demanding that the federal government immediately withdraws security forces deployed to the South East region.

The group pointed out that the use of violence against the Igbos would no longer be acceptable.

The statement partly read: “In the light of the complex developments, hydra-headed security challenges and other sundry issues adversely affecting the indigenous civilian populations lumped up together against their will in Nigeria.

“The government of Biafra hereby declares as follows; the hydra-headed government believes absolutely in the sanctity of human life – the protection of lives in the Biafran territory – and therefore condemns in no uncertain terms the ongoing wanton destruction of lives and properties in Biafraland by both state and non-state actors irrespective of their motives.

“That the De Facto Customary Government of Biafra extols the democratic ethos for which Biafrans are known and as such declares support for the people of Biafra to exercise their democratic rights to vote and be voted for in Biafraland in the current and future elections.”

Speaking on the Anambra governorship election, the group stated “That in line with this pronouncement, the De Facto Customary Government of Biafra affirms that elections in Anambra State and elsewhere in Biafraland must hold by the extant laws; that any boycott of the Anambra elections and others elsewhere remains fruitless, counterproductive and would be incapable of invalidating the electoral process because a winner must emerge eventually by the circumstances. We strongly urged all to go out and vote for the preferred candidates of their choices.

“That the continued violent campaign for the boycott of elections and other ancillary unethical conducts which are inimical to the advancement of the Biafran cause are subsequently frowned at and as such must be discouraged forthwith.

“That the proponents of this self-annihilating strategy must be reminded that in reality, the best way to be in control of political power is by engaging and by going through the democratic process itself or they will otherwise and in effect be aiding and abating the same Fulani-controlled Nigerian state to all the more heavily militarise Biafraland, impose a state of emergency, kill more Biafrans, ultimately rig the elections and fraudulently install their stooges.”