The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has commenced the printing of ballot papers for the conduct of voting exercise for the people of the southeast zone to determine who wants to remain in the country, Nigeria or secede.

A statement released by the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, called on south easterners to ignore rumours which he claimed were sponsored by individuals who have equated referendum to a call for war.

While saying that both were different, he explained that efforts geared towards the first referendum are already gathering momentum, adding that dates for the exercise would be announced soon.

He said, “Forty million ballot papers are being printed and ready for distribution to every clan and village in Biafra land, for all adults above eighteen years to express their preference.

“For those that set out to mislead the populace by equating IPOB’s call for referendum as a call for war, will no doubt, find another reason or excuse to object to this upcoming plebiscite.

“This is not the first time a referendum is going to be held in a country. It has been held previously, and it did not amount to war either.

“It is worth recalling that on the 11th February 1961, Nigeria conducted a referendum for the people of southern Cameroun to determine whether they wish to be part of Nigeria or merge with Francophone northern Cameroun.

“This referendum resulted in the peaceful secession of the then NCNC controlled Anglophone Cameroun 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.

“If those that claim to be the elite in the society cannot reference southern Cameroun as a case study, where referendum resolved an intractable issue, then their supposed elitism is founded on pure fantasy.

“Again, on the 13th of July 1963, Nigeria conducted another referendum which led to the creation of the defunct Mid-West from the supposedly Yoruba dominated Western region. The old Mid-Western region comprised of parts of today’s Delta and Edo State. No war was fought, no ethnic group was threatened with extinction.

“Those that canvassed for a referendum then were not labelled war mongers. It speaks of the magnitude of prevailing ignorance in Nigeria that people are, in this age, unaware of the fact that referendum has been used in Nigeria before to resolve a seemingly intractable issue.”

According to IPOB, plans were in advanced stage for the first in its three stages referendum process towards the peaceful, non-violent restoration of the nation of Biafra.

The statement added, “The 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.”

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