Obi of Onitcha Warns: IPOB has no right to stop election in Anambra State; it must hold.

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe has warned the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) against carrying out its plans to halt the governorship election in Anambra State.

Igwe Achebe said IPOB had no right to stop election in Anambra State, declaring that the November 18 gubernatorial election must hold as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

The Obi made the declaration when the State leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene visited him in his palace.

He said that the traditional institution in the state had endorsed the rotational of governorship slot to every zone, just like the town Union and Ohanaeze Ndigbo had done.

He said, “The election is for us not for the entire country. You cannot have a referendum in one part of the country without carrying other parts of the country along and the government must support and sponsor it before it will be organized and not curving out some part of the country for the referendum.

“The election must hold and nobody or group of persons will stop it. Nobody should come to the state to cause unnecessary tension”.

Igwe Achebe, who is also the Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Ruler’s Council called on the Ndigbo in other parts of the state and country to invest at home in order to make Igbo land an economic hub in the county.

“Our people should come home to invest in industry, factory, build schools and hospitals that will be beneficial to our people.

“We need non-partisan strong institution to create a good environment for development.

“I commend the new Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership both at the national and state level for their efforts within six months to unite Ndigbo,” Achebe stated.

In his remarks, the State Ohanaeze Chairman, Chief Okeke-Ogene said they visited the traditional ruler to show respect and to carry the traditional institution along in whatever they do as custodian of culture in Igbo land.

“There is nothing we will do without you. If there is any case that is beyond us, we will consult you for advice and possible resolution.

“Obi of Onitsha is the bridge between the people and the government and his throne is the falling point for Ndigbo, Onitsha culture is a complete and standard that other Igbo land emulates”, he said.

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