Some socio-political and cultural groups in the South-East and the South-West have backed the militants such as the Ohanaeze Ndi’gbo; Progressive Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra and Oodu’a People’s Congress for the recent comments made by the ex-warlords where had threatened unrest if the President loses his second term bid.
According to the groups, the militants meant was that if the election is not fair and credible and Jonathan loses, they will reject the result.
The National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Mr. Osita Oganah, quoted the All Progressives Congress as also saying if the election was rigged and its candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) lost, the party would form a parallel government.
“There’s nothing wrong in that too,” he added.
Oganah stated, “We, the Igbo, are in support of what the militants have said to the extent that they’re putting Independent National Electoral Commission under pressure. Their comments should move the INEC to do its best so that every would-be voter gets his or her Permanent Voter Card. Nobody must be disenfranchised.
“These militants are Nigerians–they belong to this country and want the best for this country. What the militants have said is not out of place. I don’t see any reason why the Temporary Voter Card cannot be used.
“If the electorate is unable to get PVCs, its INEC’s fault and not theirs; making that statement is to ensure that if the election is conducted well, Jonathan will win.”
In a similar vein, the Oodu’a People’s Congress said the recent attacks on Jonathan’s campaign train in the northern part of the country made the militants to rise in the President’s defence.
The National Coordinator, OPC, Mr. Gani Adams, said, “They are entitled to their opinion. There are different ways of approaching the election. They spoke based on the attacks on Jonathan in Katsina and Bauchi. When some politicians wanted to frustrate (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo in 2002, we (OPC) rose up to confront them.”
Similarly, the Progressive Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, a breakaway faction of MASSOB, said the militants were right with their position.
The Director of Information, Progressive MASSOB, Mr. Uchenna Madu, said while the group was not political, it shared the general political interest of Igbo people.
He said, “What they said was true. If Jonathan loses the election, there would be a greater height of militancy in the Niger Delta region; if Buhari loses, insurgency will increase. It is on both sides.”
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