Join politics, stop agitations, "UPP tells pro-Biafra groups"

 

The United Progressives Party on Thursday advised pro-Biafra groups to participate in politics and stop embarking on street agitations that has exposed youths to avoidable deaths.

The Anambra State Chairman of UPP, Dr Sylvester Igwilo,  gave the advice while addressing some pro-Biafra agitators who met with the State Working Committee of the party in Awka.

The groups included the Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria, Bilie Initiative and the Customary Government of Biafra.

Igwilo urged them to check the political alienation of their members by registering and participating elections.

He said the lives of several young people had been lost due to the wrong approach adopted by some pro-Biafra groups.

He added that such groups had denied the South-East of favour from the national government because they did not encourage their members to participate during headcounts and elections.

The chairman noted that though the UPP shared some of the concerns of the pro-Biafra groups, it would not encourage violence or unconstitutional means of expressing grievances.

He urged the members to register with the UPP and vote for its candidate in the November 18 governorship election in the state.

He said, “Political participation is the surest way to freedom and not violence. You must get your members registered to be able to vote, so that through the ballot you can speak.

“The UPP believes in ideas and democracy. We don’t support the death of young people on the streets and we are saying no more to that. That is why we want you to be part of this process.

“The UPP will hold a credible primary that will produce the best candidate but it can only win with your votes, so, the strategy is to mobilise your members to be part of us and vote.”

In her remarks, the National Coordinator of MOBIN, a pro-Biafra group, Rita Anigbogu, said they had come to activate a relationship with the UPP in the state.

Anigbogu said MOBIN adopted the UPP because it was convinced that the party meant well for the politically marginalised.

She said, “MOBIN believes in the manifesto of the UPP and has adopted it because we want to be heard in the parliament and not the streets again. We no longer want to see death of our youths in the streets.

“Anambra election is a litmus test for us and we want to ensure that the true party with the interest of our people wins the November 18 poll.”