The self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafran Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), Simon Ekpa has declared that the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), will not end his sit-at-home orders in the Southeast region.
Igbos, South-easterners and those sympathetic to Mazi Kanu and his Biafra agitation usually justify their compliance with Ekpa’s sit-at-home orders, citing Kanu’s continued unjust incarceration by the Federal Government in defiance to the bail granted him by courts in the country.
Ekpa had always made it known that the only objective of the sit-at-home orders from his faction of IPOB was to put pressure on the Nigerian government to free their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from DSS custody.
But in a tweet that shocked the supporters and followers of Kanu on what could be Ekpa’s real agenda, Ekpa said even if the IPOB leader was freed by the Nigerian government, he will continue to declare and enforce sit-at-home orders, adding that Kanu must be allowed to broadcast to Biafrans from his (Ekpa’s) Finland base.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be released and he must address Biafrans from Finland. That is the condition of the Prime Minister of Biafra and the Biafra Republic Government in Exile”, Ekpa tweeted.
This declaration sparked anger from supporters and followers IPOB on his twitter handle, who accused him of selling out and betraying Kanu for his personal relevance and financial benefits.
Some said they had always suspected that Ekpa had parted ways with Kanu, citing his attacks on Kanu’s family members especially his younger brother and wife, as well as his refusal to take instructions from the IPOB Directorate of State (DOS), which Kanu had put in charge of the organisation in his absence.
“You are worse than Judas Iscariot. You sold Onye Ndu for 12 shekels of silver. This is no longer about his freedom because now you are being paid by enemies to keep Onye Ndu in prison and destabilize Igboland”, said one James Eze from the twitter handle, @ezejames4real.
“You have hijacked IPOB and the Biafra movement! EKPA nwa Abakaliki, you are both insane and mad! This is nothing but a coup. I always knew you were a low criminal. No wonder they call you EKPA ONYE EKPERIMA! You are a scammer!”, said Nwoke Biafra, from the handle, @chiemerielabiafra.
Another follower said Ekpa betrayed his leader in his greed for money. “MNK rots in DSS cell while Ekpa is enjoying social media limelight and donations from Biafra family worldwide. His next move is to organize a fundraising event. He knows that once Kanu is freed, he is finished. He will do anything to keep MNK in prison. That is his game”, said Uche Nwegbu from the handle @nwegbuRuche
Recall that on Friday, Kanu had declared an end to all sit-at-home orders in the South-East and any other proposed means aimed at forcing government to release him from detention.
Kanu made the declaration in a handwritten letter authorised to his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, to be read out to journalists during a world press conference held in Enugu on Friday.
The IPOB leader unambiguously stated that anyone henceforth engaging in any sit-at-home in the region is no longer his disciple.
Kanu, in the written declaration dated July 24, 2023, which Ejimakor read, followed the refusal of IPOB factional leader and commander of the Autopilot “unknown gunmen” terror group, Simon Ekpa, to announce the cancellation and further declaration and enforcerment of sit-at-home orders through his social media platforms.
“Simon, this is a direct order from me. I hereby instruct you to desist from calling for any sit-at-home henceforth. Equally, refrain from antagonising governors or persons in political positions because you are not in a position to know what they are doing on my behalf. I am ordering you to make a public announcement to the effect that you are in receipt of a direct order from me to cancel any pending sit-at-home in place at the moment”, Kanu said in the letter.
“I embarked on this movement to liberate our people not to enslave them. I despise and will despise any person or entity that wishes to inflict unnecessary hardship on our people.
“I have sent countless messages to those purportedly enforcing sit-at-home that they are not doing so in my name”, he stated.
