Governorship election won’t hold in Anambra, I control the people 100 per cent – Nnamdi Kanu

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in an interview with journalists said he is certain that voters will boycott the November 18, 2017 governorship election in Anambra State if the Federal Government refuses his demand for a referendum. IHUOMA CHIEDOZIE was there

What is your position on the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State?

There will not be any election in Anambra on the 18th of November, 2017, and there won’t be any going forward until they give me a date for a referendum. They know what to do, it is very simple. They should convene a meeting, I attend or I send my representative and they give us a date. That is very simple. That is the only way we can have elections.

Have you considered that your position could lead to bloodshed?

Where on this earth have you ever found self determination resulting in any form of conflict? Only in Nigeria, because those in the political class are not educated enough to understand or distinguish between self determination and war. They don’t mean the same thing. Referendum does not mean the same thing as war. If there is war, we still have to sit round the table to discuss, ultimately. If there isn’t any war, we still need to discuss. Things cannot go on this way. The status quo can no longer hold. Like Evangelist Eliot Ukoh said, if on or before October 1st nothing happens in terms of substantive restructuring, they will support us.

Are you not bothered that Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other Igbo leaders have distanced themselves from your call for election boycott?

No, I’m not because the people are with us. We control the people 100 per cent. And come to Anambra on the 18th of November, 2017, the whole world will be amazed.

 What will IPOB do to people who decide to come out to vote in Anambra on November 18? What will happen if party members decide to come out to vote for their candidates?

Those party members are IPOB members as well and I can assure you that they will listen to us and they will not vote.

But if people come out to vote, what will IPOB do?

Nothing, we are entirely peaceful. We are not stopping anyone from voting. If you want to vote, you can go and vote. We are democrats.

Last week, you went to Nri (ancient Igbo kingdom in Anambra State believed to be the first in Igboland) and you were quoted as cursing Anambra State. It has generated a lot of controversy. What really happened?

I couldn’t possibly curse where I come from. People have this meaningless and senseless dichotomy all over the place – Imo, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi. Before Abia State was created, I came from Imo State. Before Imo State was created, we were all from East-Central. Is that not correct? And before that, where were we? So I cannot answer an identity or a name given to me by somebody in Lagos or in Abuja. Only a dog can do that. I reject the compartmentalisation of my identity or its restriction to only Abia State. I am a Biafran. I speak Igbo language. Anambra State is part of Biafra and the capital of Biafra for that matter because they are the first son. If Anambra doesn’t (boycott the) election on the 18th of November, the glory of the Most High God will depart from them. I didn’t curse them. I asked them to wake up and rise up to their responsibility as the head of not just Igboland but Biafra and they must do that and vindicate us come the 18th of November 2017.

While granting you bail, the judge said you should not grant interviews. You are speaking to the press now, granting an interview. Are you not flouting the bail conditions?

You (journalists) asked me a question. Do you suggest I should ignore you?

No. But don’t you think that you are flouting the bail conditions by granting this interview?

I am replying you. That is what I am doing. I am not giving an interview, I am responding to the question you asked me. The judge is a very learned fellow. She cannot stop me from speaking. Buhari and the DSS have been in multiple breach of court order after c