‘Boycott will be fruitless’ — Asari Dokubo-led Biafran group makes case for Anambra poll

The Biafra Customary Government (BCG), an organisation founded by Asari Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force, says the Anambra governorship election fixed for November 6 must be held.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had said it would “lock down” the south-east if Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the group, isn’t released by November 4.

Speaking on the development, Uche Okafor-Mefor, BCG spokesman, in a statement, said any boycott of the Anambra elections will be “fruitless and counterproductive”.

Okafor-Mefor also said the federal government should punish all the security agents involved in extrajudicial killings in the south-east region.

“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,” he said.

“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 De Facto Customary Government of Biafra further condemns without any equivocation the associated systematic subject on of Biafrans to torture and the targeted assassination of Biafrans on Biafran soil. These are heinous conducts against the laws of the land and prohibited as atrocious crimes by the international community.

“That the De Facto Customary Government of Biafra calls on the Nigerian government to withdraw her forces from the Biafran territory forthwith and to arrest and bring to justice all her security personnel implicated in the commission of crimes against humanity, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Biafraland.

“That the De Facto Customary Government of Biafra opposes and deplores in its entirety any torture or killings of Biafrans by Biafrans on Biafran soil. Henceforth, anybody or group of people embarking on this criminality remain the enemy of the people.”

The group, however, said it supports the sit-at-home directive, as long as it is voluntary and will not violate the rights of residents in the south-east.

“De Facto Customary Government of Biafra welcomes any civil disobedience measures taken by Biafrans in response or protest to the violations of their fundamental human rights and freedoms and which advances the ever legitimate Biafran cause,” Mefor said.

“In this regard and with particular reference, any sit-at-home in line with the above-stated objective which is voluntary is welcome. However, any violent enforcement of such exercise leading to the forcible restriction of movements, destruction of businesses, lives and properties in Biafraland must be challenged.”