DECEMBER 14 , 2022 | EASTERN PILOT Opinion By: Seun Opejobi | Igbo apex socio-political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Monday called for ...
DECEMBER 14 , 2022 | EASTERN PILOT
Opinion By: Seun Opejobi |
Igbo apex socio-political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Monday called for the arrest of a self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Simon Ekpa, over the killings and destruction in the Southeast. Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, said Ekpa should be arrested and repatriated to Nigeria for prosecution over the violence in the Southeast.
Isiguzoro identified Ekpa as one of those instigating the killings and destructions in the Southeast. Recall that the Finland-based Ekpa recently declared a five-day sit-at-home across the Southeast. IPOB, however, distanced itself from the order by Ekpa while urging residents of the region to go about their activities. However, Isiguzoro said Ohanaeze would liaise with the Finish Embassy and relevant authorities to ensure that Ekpa is arrested and repatriated to Nigeria to face the consequences of his actions.
A statement by Isiguzoro reads: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has commenced the processes of making sure that those responsible for the pandemonium, destruction of public properties, killings, and civil unrest in the southeast will face the consequences of their actions, the incitement of chaos, and their contributions towards the insecurity challenges in the Southeast. “Ndigbo has identified Simon Ekpa as the overseas provocateur and instigator for the current killings in Imo state, the destruction of public properties in Enugu State, and disturbance of public peace and sporadic shootings in Ebonyi State.”
The statement further avowed: “Ndigbo will liaise with relevant organizations, Finish Embassy in Nigeria, and Nigerians in Diaspora to seek ways to bring Simon Ekpa back to Nigeria to face prosecution and trials over the killings of south easterners, burning of public properties and the disturbances of public peace.” Isiguzoro accused Ekpa of issuing evil decrees against the collection of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, in the Southeast. He described Ekpa as a criminal hiding under the Finish citizenship and Biafra agitation to wreak havoc and extort monies from Nigerians abroad.
According to him: “The so-called self-acclaimed Biafran agitator is championing the disruption of election processes in the southeast, with evil decrees against the collection of PVCs in the southeast, and institute an illegal but violent Sit at homes, to undermine the economy of Ndigbo in this festive seasons and stimulate violence, massacres, and chaos as Christmas gifts for Ndigbo. “Ndigbo calls for the immediate arrest, and repatriation of Simon Ekpa, to Nigeria, he’s a trickery man and criminal hiding behind Finish citizenship and Biafra agitation to wreak havoc, extort monies from Nigerians abroad, and influence the insecurity challenges against Ndigbo.”
He added: “This is the height of deception and treachery against Ndigbo, and the immediate arrest of Simon Ekpa will end up insecurity challenges in the east and serve as a deterrent to others, who might want to consider being a menace to the public, particularly to the people of the southeast.” IPOB had many times disowned Simon Ekpa, accusing him and his group called Autopilot, of being responsible for the criminal activities across the South-East region in the name of IPoB. Spokesman of IPoB, Emma Powerful, had on many occasions made it clear that genuine IPoB members struggling for the State of Biafra, never engage in killing the very people they claim to be liberating from marginalisation.
Distancing itself from Ekpa’s five-day sit-at-home order, IPoB described it as “mischievous” and “anti-Biafra.” Speaking through Emma Powerful, IPoB called on residents of the South-East region to ignore the order. “IPoB never issued any sit-at-home order because we are not miscreants, senseless or jobless people. Every Biafran resident in Biafra land should ignore such an order from untrained and brainless individuals whose agenda is to make Biafra agitation unattractive to our people. Every Biafran must go about their normal businesses. IPoB which is concerned about our people cannot issue such a brainless and uncaring five-day consecutive sit-at-home order to suffer our people during this critical time of the year.
“The conception of a five-day consecutive sit-at-home order is to show the level of wickedness and hatred they have against our people. Their agenda is to create insecurity and unnecessary hardship. Our people should be prepared and ready to confront any fool who dares to enforce such wicked sit-at-home. Moreover, ESN operatives and IPoB volunteers will be out on these dates to protect our people and the markets.”
Prince Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu accused Ekpa of being a paid agent, saying his activities and approach to agitation for Biafra has clearly given him out as a paid agent. According to Prince Kanu: “It beats the imagination that somebody who claims to be fighting for the cause of Ndigbo will at the same time be engaging in activities injurious to the same people.” Ekpa, he said, could not claim to be championing the Biafra cause, when in fact, he is making life painful and miserable for the people. “There is no doubt he is working for some people because no true blooded Igbo will do something to jeopardize the lives of Igbo people. “Onyendu (IPoB leader), has always said that he cannot take a life because he doesn’t give life. So, why will people take other people’s lives?
“Why will you kill the same people you say you are fighting to protect? It doesn’t make sense. It is just obvious that Ekpa is working for some people to destroy what Onyendu has built over the years. Why would he give a sit-at-home order? Under whose authority will he do that? “My brother told me clearly that he did not authorise any person or group to order for sit-at-home. So, why do that? Who is he doing it to impress? It is only a paid agent that will behave the way he does,” Kanu said.
Renowned academia and professor of political science, Obasi Igwe dismissed Simon Ekpa and his disruptive activities in Igbo land, saying that he is being sponsored by those who do not wish the Igbo well. Prof. Igwe exonerates IPoB from the evil activities of Ekpa, insisting that IPoB has only one leader in the person of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He said that Ekpa’s activities are against IPoB and Ndigbo and described Ekpa’s pursuit as childish.
“There is only one IPoB known to the world, and it is headed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. IPoB is unarmed and peaceful; except its opposition to the activities of Fulani terrorists; they’ve severally assured us of commitment to the campaigns and elections; and had long cancelled the sit-at-homes. What Simon Ekpa is doing is both against the IPoB that people know, the Igbo as a people, as well as all civilized mankind. It is now almost certain that Ekpa is being sponsored by those who do not wish the Igbo well.
The Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation, Aba Unit, Professor Charles Chinekezi tasked leaders of the South-East zone not to allow Simon Ekpa to cause more crises that could aggravate the security situation in the region. Chinekezi said that Ekpa is bent on creating fear and fostering crisis in the region. “Simon Ekpa is overstepping his bounds. He is insane, highly irresponsible and hell bent on creating fear and fostering crisis in the South-East and halting Nigeria’s march to genuine democracy. Leaders of the South- East zone should not allow Ekpa to cause more crises and aggravate the already tensed security situation in the zone.
“All of us are stakeholders in the South-East and Nigeria project. So, what stops Ekpa from pursuing dialogue in whatever idea he is advocating? They said he is educated, he ought to have shown this in his conduct, but I am yet to see him display the qualities of an educated person. He appears to be a man who thrives in crisis. “Ekpa is clearly swimming against the tide of the South-East by inflicting hardship on the same people he wants to liberate.”
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