Headlines
South East Killings: Arrest Simon Ekpa Now, Nigerians Urge FG, EU, Finnish Govt
Following the five-day sit-at-home order that has led to the killing of many residents in the South-East recently, Nigerians all over the world are signing a petition appealing to the Finnish government, Nigerian government and the European Union to arrest Simon Ekpa, the brain behind the order.
As of the time of filing this report, 2,761 people on Thursday had signed the petition seeking for Ekpa’s arrest.
Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in a viral video, ordered the people of the South-East to observe a sit-at-home from December 9-14, 2022. An order that has been marked by bloodshed and destruction of lives and properties in the region by its enforcers.
Although IPOB, through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, denied ever issuing any sit-at-home order on the days mentioned above, violence had continued to reign in the region.
Consequently, aggrieved Nigerians are signing the petition calling for Ekpa’s arrest for “terrorism and genocide.”
The petition reads, “We call on the Finnish Government, EU, The Nigerian Government to arrest Mr. Simon Ekpa, and investigate all his heinous crimes and terror activities in Eastern Nigeria.
“One Simon Ekpa (also known as Ifeanyi Njoku), a Nigerian living in Finland, and holding Finnish citizenship, has by proxies, successfully established and coordinated an armed rebel group in Eastern Nigeria whom he now wields to destroy lives, property, and businesses in Eastern Nigeria.
“He’s been seen countless times, using his media platforms in Finland to issue orders to his armed goons in Eastern Nigeria to launch deadly attacks on millions of people in the region for flouting his sit-at-home orders.
“Simon is a separatist fighting for state secession but has never been brave enough to come home and lead the war from the front in Nigeria.
“He is rather igniting and fueling terror on his ethnic group who decline his call for secession.
“Simon’s action is stirring up bloodbath – a genocide in the region, and innocent women, children, the aged and youths are the victims dying everyday.
“Sign the petition, and share it everywhere, to call on the Finnish Government, EU, The Nigerian Government to arrest Mr. Simon Ekpa, and investigate all his heinous crimes and terror activities in Eastern Nigeria.”
The PUNCH reported on Tuesday that the detained IPOB leader, Kanu, condemned the attacks ongoing in the eastern region of the country following Ekpa’s five-day sit-at-home order.
According to the special counsel for Kanu and IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor, who visited Kanu in his DSS detention on Monday, the IPOB leader expressed his sadness over the attacks and expressed his sympathy for the victims.
Ejimakor had said, “I had a visitation with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu today (Monday).
“With profound sadness, he received news of the staggered attacks of the past few days across the South-East, including the one at my hometown.
“He asked me to strongly condemn the attacks on his behalf and convey his comfort to all the victims.”
In a similar report Kanu’s brother, Emmanuel, also condemned the attacks, saying Ekpa had acted like a “paid agent.”
Emmanuel said, “Whatever has happened was completely wrong. There was no order issued by the leader of IPOB.
“It beats my 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.
“There is no doubt he is working for some people because no true-blooded Igbo will do something to jeopardise the lives of Igbo people. The 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 the leader has built over the years. Why would he give a sit-at-home order? Under whose authority will he do that?
“My brother (Nnamdi Kanu) 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,” Emmanuel concluded.
The Punch
Headlines
Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
