Imo State Receives Huge Returnees From North Due To Likely Election Violence

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.
--AFRICAN EXAMINER