Finland based self-proclaimed disciple of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa has announced himself as Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) and wrote to the United Nations (UN) demanding unconditionally release of Nnamdi Kanu and all ‘Biafrans’ held captive in any prison in Nigeria.
Ekpa, in a letter to the United Nations General Assembly, dated April 13, 2023, which he personally signed, urged the global community to recognise Biafra Republic Government in Exile, which he said was established to undertake the political and administrative governance of the ‘Biafra nation’ from outside of ‘Biafra’ territory.
He also appealed to the UN to prevail on the government of Nigeria to unconditionally release Nnamdi Kanu and all ‘Biafrans’ held captive in any prison in Nigeria, and conduct a peaceful referendum to enable a peaceful and bloodless exit of Biafra from Nigeria.
According to him, Kanu who was unlawfully extradited from Kenya to Nigeria in 2021, has been accused of treason by the Nigerian government, and has been in the custody of the Department of State Services, (DSS), since his repatriation, adding that different courts have discharged the case, with the UN working group on arbitrary detention requesting his freedom within six months.
“The 6 months ultimatum expired in February 2023, yet the jihadist, terrorist, and democratic-dictatorial government of Buhari and APC refused to release him.”
According to the letter obtained on Thursday, Ekpa stated that the indigenous people of ‘Biafra’ set up the exile government in their determination to exit the Nigerian state, while enumerating a plethora of reasons why IPOB wants the South-East region to exit from Nigeria.
He said the Biafra Government in Exile will “undertake diplomatic and foreign relationships, arrangements and agreements, negotiations and pacts with other nations and interest organisations of the world on behalf of Biafra People”
“They are to be accorded all diplomatic privileges as due to any government official of their respective level. Biafra people, through their government in exile are sourcing for supports from all nations of the world to assist it exit Nigeria peacefully,” he said.
He also claimed that the recently concluded general elections in Nigeria was skewed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to foist a Muslim-Muslim ticket on Nigerians without creating a level playground for all citizens.
He disclosed that there were “forces that trampled upon others and calling the shots at will.”
He alleged that Biafran youths were extrajudicially killed in various parts of the country while “no terrorist Fulani herdsman, Boko Haram, ISWAP, terrorists was in jail because they were being sponsored by the State”.
Ekpa also alleged that terrorists arrested during the President Goodluck Jonathan administration have been released and “rewarded with job positions in the Nigeria military while innocent Igbo youths are rounded up, tagged terrorists, jailed or killed without trial.