A chieftain of the Labour Party and convener of 40m ballot revolution Comr. Kennedy Iyere, has written to the leadership of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) to step in and avoid the looming bloodshed in Enugu State over the delay in declaring the result of the March 18th governorship election
Iyere in the letter addressed to Chief Edwin Clark, Leader, PANDEF; Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Leader, AFENIFERE; Dr Bitrus Pogu, Leader, Middle Belf Forum (MBF) and Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Igbo Elders Consultative Forum, said the situation in Enugu is similar to what the Igbos are suffering in Nigeria.
“As part of our collective struggle to uphold political justice, equity and fairness for the Igbos, we have stood with them over the past years till date, giving our support to Peter Obi to emerge the actual winner of the 2023 presidential election regardless of the fact that he was rigged out. We did all of these for the Igbos because we believe the South-East have been largely politically marginalized for
too long, hence we decided to fight for political equity in their own favour.
“But sadly today, certain persons who are allies of Peter Obi have selfishly chosen to marginalize the people of Nkanu Region of Enugu State because the Nkanu People have a lesser voting population than the Nsukka People who constitute 53% of the voting populace of Enugu State.”
Iyere told the SMBFL that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Barr. Peter Mbah, won the 2023 governorship election but some Cabals are bent on not allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declare the results already collated.
“The 2023 Enugu Guber Poll held on Saturday 18th March, 2023 was won by an Nkanu Indigene, Barrister Peter Mbah of the PDP but certain Political Cabals of the Nsukka Clan have used their political influence to prevent INEC from declaring the winner of the election. Those behind this evil act are the Nwodo brothers – Nnia Nwodo and Okwesilieze Nwodo and they are also working with Prof Barth Nnaji, another man working for his selfish material benefits.
“May I please let you know at this point that the outgoing Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is an Nsukka Man and he governed the state for 8 years. Therefore, it is morally not right to yet again allow another man from Nsukka cultural zone to take over the Gubernatorial Seat. The Labour Party candidate, Chijioke Edeoga is an Nsukka Man and a blood relative to the outgoing Governor. He is an in-law to the Nwodos and married to their own Niece.
“He lost the 2023 Enugu Guber Poll to Peter Mbah of the Nkanu Clan, but the Nwodos have hindered INEC from declaring him the winner and this ugly trend is mounting much political tensions that could likely escalate to anarchy and bloodshed.
“This is why I am sending this letter urging you as elders to lend your voices by asking INEC to declare the winner before things get out of hands. As elders and leaders who believe in power rotation and political justice, equity and fairness, you need to lend your “voices” at this point and ask INEC to declare the winner of the results they have collated. Any attempt to truncate the outcome might lead to bloodshed
and God won’t be pleased with us because we stand a chance to have prevented the disaster.
“Let us move now to prevent a looming bloodbath. As fathers, you can prevent this looming bloodshed by urging INEC to declare the winner of the results they have collated and then advise those who have issues with the results to settle it at the tribunal. You all know what I have done for the Igbos and
Peter Obi.
“Peter Obi became a movement because people like me selflessly spent their money, time
and also put their lives on the line. You are my witnesses and the true heroes of the pro-Igbo political anti-marginalization struggle. Please save Enugu State from a looming disaster.”
