Dr Alex Ogbonnia, the Public Secretary of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has called on the Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra, IPOB to shun violence and dialogue with groups in other parts of the country to end the alleged marginalisation of the south east.
He explained that Ndigbo cannot achieve what they want through arm insurrection.
Ogbonnai spoke following the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the Finland based ‘Prime Minister” of Biafran Government by the Finnish authority, which is now trying him for international terrorism.
The arrest of Ekpa, the magazine reports, has brought a huge relief to the region, which have been bedeviled by serious insecurity in recent months, due to the activities of the Seccessionist IPOB.
The Ohanaeze leader made the remark on Wednesday on Channels Television Morning Brief Programme, saying the region can not win the battle of marginalisation alone. He also described the arrest of Ekpa as a ‘huge relief’ to the region, citing the violent confrontations by IPOB which, according to him has almost brought the economy of the region to a total stalemate.
Ogbonnia solutions to alleged marginalisation. He said efforts are being made by the Ndigbo Worldwide to dialogue with other regional groups such as Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, amongst others to resolve the marginalisation problem facing Ndigbo in the country.
He blamed former President Muhammadu Buhari for further heightening the level of insecurity in the region due to his administration’s refusal to appoint people from the region to top government positions, noting that the action really angered the youths who fought back throw IPOB.
Following his arrest six days ago, the Finnish police said Ekpa was arrested “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.” he was arrested alongside four other suspects, the police said.
The police said he will be tried: “Claims will be heard in Päijät-Häme district court today, November 21. The detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.”
Ekpa’s arrest has also brought huge relief to the Nigerian government which said it will press the Finnish Government for his repatriation to the country to face trial.
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said they will collaborate with the Finnish government to sent Ekpa to Nigeria to be tried in the court.
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