‘Conduct referendum or South-East, Kogi, Benue will boycott 2019 election’

Secessionist group, Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has given the federal government a six-month ultimatum to conduct a referendum for the exit of Biafra from Nigeria.

MASSOB warned that unless the referendum is conducted the South-east, Kogi and parts of Benue state would boycott the 2019 general elections.

In a statement, MASSOB’s national director of information, Samuel Edeson said the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other pro-Biafran groups would ensure that there is no election in the region.

The statement reads:

“MASSOB is giving six months’ ultimatum to the federal government to conduct a referendum in Biafran land or there will be no election in the South East region, including parts of Kogi and Benue states.

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“MASSOB, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other genuine pro-Biafran groups will mobilise the people against 2019 general election in all Biafran territory to boycott the election if federal government refuses to conduct a referendum for the exit of Biafra from Nigeria.

“We are not going to disrupt anybody, including electoral officers; they will move to their wards to conduct election, but they won’t see anybody.

“No Biafran will come out to vote that day. If somebody decides to stay indoors, you won’t force him to go out and vote. We are tired of Nigeria, there is no amount of restructuring that will change our vision to actualise Biafra.”