The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has called on the Federal Government to take advantage of Nigeria’s diplomatic ties with Finland to get Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, whom the military has accused of fuelling the insecurity in the South-East.
General Musa, who spoke when he appeared before the House of Representatives alongside the three Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), called for the extradition of Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from his operational base in Finland.
Musa, speaking of the insecurity in the South East, said: “Simon Ekpa has become a menace to this country. The country must act on it diplomatically. Finland is having a freeway encouraging him to do what he is doing. His utterances and actions are affecting what is happening in Nigeria.
“We should never allow that. Our foreign service should step in. It is either we invite the ambassador to come and explain why they are protecting him. And he is doing us more harm because by his utterances, a lot of people have been killed.”
Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, said Ohanaeze welcomed Musa’s proposition, stating: “This morning (Wednesday), the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and myself, we have discussed it. And then as you know, everybody, all the stakeholders in the South East, the Governors, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the leadership of Ohanaeze, everybody is concerned about the security situation in the South-East.
“So, the statement yesterday at the hearing of the House of Representatives tells the story as to what we have been saying all along. 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.
“The Federal Government has a diplomatic relationship with Finland, they (Finland) have an embassy in Abuja, and that diplomatic channel is what Ohanaeze is asking to be activated. Ohanaeze is very pleased that the Chief of Defence Staff made a public pronouncement on the matter of Simon Ekpa and we are happy with it.”
The Ohanaeze leader added that the organisation was not relenting in the effort to secure the release of the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Emuchay said, “Ohanaeze will not be deterred in calling for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Ohanaeze and the South-East governors are on the same page on the matter of Nnamdi Kanu. I am not in a position now to say more but Ohanaeze with 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.”
Published with additional reports from The PUNCH