In a turn of events, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has openly abandoned Finland-based Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa, urging the Federal Government to take immediate diplomatic action. The move comes after Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, accused Ekpa of sabotaging security efforts in the South-East during a House of Representatives session on November 21, 2023.
Ohanaeze’s Secretary General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, echoed the organisation’s support for Musa’s proposal, stating that everyone in the South-East is deeply concerned about Ekpa’s activities in the region. In an interview with ThePunch, Emuchay stressed, “It is a matter for the Federal Government of Nigeria to handle, as Ohanaeze or the states in the South-East are subordinate to the Federal Government.”
Backing the Chief of Defence Staff’s stance, Emuchay urged the Federal Government to activate diplomatic ties with Finland to address Ekpa’s activities effectively. “The Federal Government has a diplomatic relationship with Finland, and that diplomatic channel is what Ohanaeze is asking to be activated,” he stated.
While addressing the matter of Nnamdi Kanu, Emuchay affirmed that Ohanaeze would continue to advocate for his release, aligning with the position of the South-East governors and stakeholders. “Ohanaeze and the South-East governors, the stakeholders in the South-East, the leadership of Ohanaeze, we are all on the same page on the release of Nnamdi Kanu,” he maintained.
