SPECIAL REPORT: Imo State Receives Huge Returnees From North Due To Likely Elections Violence

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Nigeria 2015 Election Sunday, February 1st, 2015

From Ignatius Okpara, Owerri – As the country’s general elections approach, Imo state indigenes residing in some parts of the North have started returning home massively out of fear of post-elections violence.

AFRICAN EXAMINER Correspondent observed that most of the major motor parks in various towns in the state, such as Orlu, Owerri, and Okigwe, have become a beehive of activities.

For instance, in Orlu town, the returnees, who came back with their entire households, were seen at the main park on Saturday, offloading their heavy luggages from luxurious buses, into waiting vehicles that will convey them to their respective communities.

AFRICAN EXAMINER investigations revealed that majority of the returnees are from the troubled North East parts of the country, such as Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

One of them, Mr. Silas Emeribe, a business man, based in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital, told AFRICAN EXAMINER that “my brother, since life has no duplicate, it will be senseless for me and my family to remain in the North during the forthcoming elections.

“I am afraid that Nigeria may go into flame after the forthcoming elections, because the way President Goodluck Jonathan, and General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), are desperate about winning the election, calls for serious concern”.

“Staying in the Northern part of the country during and after the election periods will be suicide, because no one knows what will happen in the end

“So, that is why I have to come back home with my family early enough”

Another returnee from Yola, the Adamwa State capital, Mr. Pius Orjiako, who hails from Ideato North council area of the state, said he decided to come back home early due to fear of uncertainty.

He however, appealed to candidates of the All progressive Congress, (APC) and those of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) to stop seeing politics as a do or die affair for the interest of the nation.

Mr Orjiako, also urged President Goodluck Jonathan, to call the ex- Niger Delta militants, currently drumming war songs to order, saying Nigeria could not afford to go into another civil war.