By Elochukwu Nicholas Ohagi

They used the shout of ‘No Election’ to make you forget that you held this space down with your legitimate and legal call for an election Boycott in 2019. You did this without any form of violence. You had the power to ask that everyone stand down and it happened, not because you threatened people, but because you are a movement of the people.

Today, politicians recruited criminal agents to be shouting ‘No Election’ and threatening people with violence. That was never the method of IPOB.

In 2019, the IPOB declaration of an Election Boycott forced politicians to the negotiation table. They knew IPOB had the interest and the voice of the people. So those the boycott of the Election will hurt in 2019 came to the negotiation table and it resulted in the signed and delivered document and the boycott was called off.

Today, IPOB want the freedom of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but those to gain from the goodwill of the IPOB don’t want Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to be released. The last time MNK secured freedom from the court, they said MNK’s release is Buhari and APC working against Mr Peter Obi. Can you imagine that? A release of an innocent man is against their candidate. So it is for them better for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to remain under torture because of their selfish interest.

Do you now understand what is playing out? I want all IPOB members and lovers of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to remember that in 2019 they activated a boycott without an iota of violence. You can still decide like I have decided not to have anything to do with the 2023 February election. Let those that think they have everything to lose speak up against the injustices of the Nigerian government against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu or they will watch as they are disgraced soonest.

Your win should not be out of the pains of an innocent man. No other person warned against rigging of 2023 election like MNK did before his illegal rendition and detention. A people campaigning for the so-called New Nigeria should be against injustice and not support the incarceration of an innocent man.

Those that think the continuous detention of Mazi Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will make them win the election will come home with empty baskets.

Are you joining my voluntary protest not to vote because of the continuous detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu?

Elochukwu Ohagi Official, Philosopher, Teacher, and Activist, 2023.