Eastern Elders Forum and Defenders of Truth, Only referendum‘ll resolve problems in Nigeria

By Dennis Agbo &  Ugochukwu Alaribe

ENUGU – THE  Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has stated that whether people boycott elections or not, winners must emerge in any  scheduled  election.
The electoral body said that whatever number of people that participated in an election, the conduct would obviously produce a winner, adding  that no matter the agitation anybody or group may have, elections are crucial to governance since somebody must be a helmsman at any point in time. 

INEC also noted that even if there would be a referendum in the country, INEC registers would be relied upon to determine legibility for participation in the referendum. INEC spoke as two pro-Biafra groups; Eastern Elders Forum and Defenders of Truth,  stated that only a referendum would resolve the prevailing political turmoil in Nigeria and urged the Federal Government to conduct one without further delay. 

The groups further warned that the call for referendum by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign States of Biafra, MASSOB  and other agitating groups in the country do not amount to declaration of   war and urged the Federal Government to do the needful.

Only referendum ‘ll resolve Nigeria’s problems Briefing newsmen in Aba, chairmen of Eastern Elders Forum and Defenders of Truth; Mazi Jude Chukwu and Mazi Ukaegbu O. Ukaegbu, respectively, warned that the Federal Government would be playing with fire if it continues to delay the conduct of a referendum to allow component units in Nigeria to determine their future. “We state that the only solution for the present political imbroglio is for the Federal Government of Nigeria to conduct a referendum in order to set free some component units of the country that are seeking for self determination.   

We  further state that the call for referendum by the IPOB, MASSOB, EPC and other agitating groups in the country doesn’t amount to war or violence, but peaceful and good settlement of the present turmoil in the country.” The groups expressed concern about the position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its youth wing and warned them not to risk the lives and property of Ndigbo through unguarded utterances. 

“Some utterances from Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its youth wing led by one Okechukwu Isiguzo, amount to outright desecration of Igbo culture and tradition. We hereby use this medium to warn some self acclaimed Igbo leaders to stop their antics. They should desist or face the wrath of elders of Ndigbo in the country or Diaspora.”

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