Nnamdi Kanu asks Abians to vote out Governor Ikpeazu over his role in Operation Python Dance

INDIGENOUS People of Biafra (Ipob) leader Nnamdi Kanu has called on his members not to return the governor of his native Abia State  Okezie Ikpeazu for a second term next month because of his role in the military operation against the group.

Speaking to his followers in a radio broadcast from Israel, in a New Year's message, Mr Kanu said Governor Ikpeazu played a major role in Operation Python Dance, the military onslaught that led to the killing of hundreds of pro-Biafra agitators in Umuahia in Abia State. On September 14 2017, the Nigerian Army carried out a raid on Mr Kanu's father's compound in Afaraukwu Ibeku, near Umuahia in Abia State, forcing him to flee.

Following the incident, Mr Kanu and his family, including his father, the local traditional ruler,  left the area and have not been seen in Nigeria ever since. Labelling anybody associating with Governor Ikpeazu as an enemy of the people, Mr Kanu maintained that no amount of state sponsored rigging through the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec), will save him from the ignominy that awaits him on March 2, this year.

Mr Kanu said: “If there is something we are certain of in 2019, it is the fact that voting will be boycotted starting with the presidential elections. Okezie Ikpeazu will be removed from office as the governor of Abia State for the role he played in initiating Operation Python Dance that killed hundreds of our men.

“This same Okezie Ikpeazu is responsible for the illegal detention without trial of Biafran Jews, a crime for which he will never be forgiven. The order to tear down every poster and disrupt every rally organised by Okezie Ikpeazu still stand and Ipob is under instruction to ensure that he is comprehensively disgraced at the polls.”