IPOB Commences Printing Of 40 Million Ballot Papers For Referendum
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says it has started printing ballot papers, with which a referendum would be conducted for the people of the South East to vote if to remain in Nigeria or secede.
The group said it plans to hold the referendum later this year, and that it was determined to ensure that the exercise took place without violence.
A press release by the Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Emma powerful called on the people of the area to ignore rumors by sponsored individuals who have equated referendum to call for war, saying that both were different.
He said, “Efforts geared towards this first referendum is gathering unstoppable momentum with dates for the exercise to be announced soon. 40 million ballot papers are being printed and readied for distribution to every clan and village in Biafraland for all adults over the age of 18 to express their preference.
“For those that set out to mislead the populace by equating IPOB’s call for a referendum as a call for war, in order to mask their betrayal of the people, will no doubt find another reason or excuse to object to this upcoming plebiscite.”
country, as it has been held previously, and did not amount to war either.
“It is worth reminding that on the 11th February 1961, Nigeria conducted a referendum for the people of Southern Cameroon to determine whether they wish to be part of Nigeria or merge with Francophone northern Cameroon.
“This referendum resulted in the peaceful secession of the then NCNC controlled Anglophone Cameroon from Nigeria. In other words, they voted to leave Nigeria for good. That was democracy in action not war.
“No war was fought and no ethnic group was threatened with annihilation. If those parading themselves as leaders, with their much touted academic accomplishments, are not aware of this relatively modern history, then the pervading ignorance in Nigeria, occasioned by the spectacular collapse of the education system, is more generational than earlier thought.
It said, “Our decision to hold the first of the three plebiscite later this year has vindicated IPOB’s resilience in sticking to the principles of non-violent agitation for Biafra, in the face of government brutality and treachery from enemies within.”
Through this age-long democratic process, IPOB said, it shall return power to the long-suffering downtrodden masses, to enable them to determine their destiny which it said was cruelly taken away by successive Nigerian governments
