The president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has advised Imo citizens to vote for any candidate of their choice in the Saturday 11, governorship election.
Speaking to newsmen in Owerri, Chief Iwuanyanwu said that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is non-partisan and therefore has no preferred candidate.
He said: “I, therefore, appeal to our people to come out en mass and elect a candidate of their choice because our Ohanaeze Ndigbo does not support any political party and their candidates.
He also urged the citizens to shun the sit-at-home order issued by one Simon Ekpa who he said was in the comfort of his home in Finland dishing out orders
“Please ignore anybody who gives sit at home order for the Saturday election because such a fellow does not mean well for our state Imo and he should rescind the order even if such a person is aggrieved, Ohanaze Ndigbo is willing to negotiate with him for peace to rain.
“We have been hearing that some people are planning to unleash violence on Saturday’s election, but this is against our culture and tradition because Igbo are peaceful, law-abiding and patriotic.
“I have not seen a situation where somebody is commanding Ndigbo to kill their fellow Igbo.”
He said that he has received several threats to his life because of his defence and outspokenness on issues bothering the wellbeing of Ndigbo but that he is not bothered about it. “I am above 80 even if I die now I have nothing to lose.”
He also dismissed reports making the rounds Governor Hope Uzodimma had met President Bola Tinubu to frustrate the release of the detained IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu describing this as baseless and unfounded.
“I have the mandate to contact President Bola Tinubu for the release of Kanu and I have met with the Southeast governors for the same purpose and all supported me. So the report that Hope Uzodimma has met with the president to stop the release of Kanu is a liar because the governor has made contributions in many ways and supported the release of Kanu. Therefore whoever originated that story must apologise to Governor Uzodimma and if he is discovered he will be sanctioned. We want peace in Igboland and not bloodshed.”