An Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has accused the self-proclaimed separatist, Simon Ekpa, of using the pro-Biafra struggle and detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to enrich himself at the expense of life, property and wellbeing of Ndigbo.
It also accused the Finland-based Ekpa of playing the script of enemies of Igbo land, having allegedly received huge sums of money to destabilise the region and undermine its progress.
The National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Okwu Nnabuike, said the group wondered why Finland has continued to harbour and allow Ekpa to use the European nation as a launchpad for what it described as deadly sit-at-home campaigns and destructive incitements.
The group described Ekpa’s sit-at-home orders as part of a deal to destroy the economy and social life of the southeast region.
“We want to make it abundantly clear to Ndigbo, Nigerians and the international community that Ekpa is not fighting the cause of Biafra or Kanu,” Nnabuike said.
“On the contrary, he has since sold all of us to our enemies, who are bent on destroying us economically, politically and socially. He is also actively working against Kanu’s release to continue making money. He knows the Federal Government will likely continue to detain Kanu as long as region is restive.
“In the same vein, because South East’s loss is gain for other parts of the country in a federal arrangement, it is obvious that Ekpa is being sponsored and encouraged by forces within and outside to destroy and hold the region down. We are already witnessing a high loss of investments and migration of existing businesses to other parts of Nigeria.”
The Ohanaeze youths also called out the government of Finland for presumed collusion in the insecurity situation in the region.
“We put it to the government of Finland that it cannot count itself innocent of all the atrocities and killings by enforcers of Ekpa’s insane sit-at-homes in our region,” he said.
“We cannot stop wondering why such a European society, renowned for its value for human life, continues to harbour Ekpa and allow him to freely incite disaster and destruction of life and property in Igbo land. Will Finland also treat him with kid gloves should his utterances or actions lead to death of a single Finnish?”
