Few hours to the 2019 general elections, Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), In an audio message released has suspended an earlier directive calling for the boycott of elections and call on the south-east region to come out in their numbers and vote during Saturday’s presidential election.
In his words “Earlier today, February 14, 2019, I received confirmation from our team that all of our pre-conditions played before those kicking off to call off the elections have been met. And in view of that, I hereby lift the boycott of elections.
“IPOB was very steadfast, we have fought a very good battle; we have made it very clear to all and sundry that we are very determined and this is victory for IPOB and for the emancipation of Biafra.”
Kanu expressed hope that those who agreed to the group’s demands will implement them. He asked the Igbo to spread the “good news” but added the group’s resolve remains the same: a sovereign state of Biafra.
“We said it from the beginning, nobody should expect us to participate in any form of elections unless our demands are met. And I am glad to tell you that they have acceded to our demands and it will be fully implemented,” he said.
Although, it is not clear who the IPOB leader is rooting for in Saturday’s presidential election.
But it is obvious neither of the two front line candidates – President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has his support.
Kanu also reaffirms his claims that President Buhari is “dead” and being replaced by a “clone” in Aso Rock, while Abubakar is a Cameroonian by birth and does not have the constitutional right to run for president.
Recall that Kanu had been calling on the Igbo to boycott any election held in Nigeria until the government agrees to a referendum regarding IPOB’s quest for a sovereign state of Biafra.