Bianca Ojukwu and right to contest

The recent attack by leadership of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) against Iyom Bianca Ojukwu, widow of late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu , should condemned by all and sundry.

This is even as the claim that the children of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu have resolved not to support the senatorial ambition of the Biafra warlord’s widow, Bianca, has finally opened the floodgates of reactions from both sides.

While the paternal family of Bianca, the late Chief C.C Onoh family, mocked the children of the Ikemba Nnewi, stating that they would meet at Bianca’s Inauguration, a group, friends of Bianca bought the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for her.

Bianca Ojukwu as a legimate wife of former Igbo warlord, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, has the right to contest the seat for Anambra East senatorial district because her husband did not divorce her before he died.

The statement issued from Abakaliki, by Leader of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu, quoted him as saying that the group had disassociated itself from the falsehood credited to MASSOB that it has declared support for the senatorial ambition of Iyom Bianca Ojukwu.

The statement reads in part: “MASSOB as the foremost Biafra self determination movement can never allow our name, integrity and public trust dragged into disgraceful mud of Nigeria politics”.

We are of the opinion that her senatorial ambition whose primary objectives is not for Biafra actualisation and restoration but for gender reasons and right as citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

MASSOB, as a body whose primary aim and objectives is for restoring Biafra Independence should not involve itself in the activities of campaign against Bianca’s ambition and should allow the will of God and the people to prevail.

On the issue of origin, it should not come up now, because originally from Ngwo, Enugu State, Bianca was married to an Anambra man, Ojukwu. By virtue of sacred institution of marriage, she is qualified and should be allowed to contest to represent the good of Anambra South senatorial zone of the state in 2019.

We are of the opinion that the right to contest for any elective post in Nigeria is constitutionally guaranteed in the law of the land. Bianca’s right in this regard is anchored in the 1999 Constitution and this right cannot be encumbered by any group or associates.

We urge those promoting contrary view to sheathe their swords as we are in a democratic dispensation anchored on the rule of law.