“I will not listen to Nnamdi Kanu until he is a free man”-Simon Ekpa

Can Sit-At-Home End Without Ekpa's Influence?

Simon Ekpa, the factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile (BRGIE), has stated that he would not heed Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, until Kanu is freed.

Ekpa made this remark during a discussion with Nigerian journalist Rudolf Okonkwo, which live-streamed on various media platforms, including Irokopost TV, on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

Rudolf Okonkwo (Nigerian Journalist)

Okonkwo, who had twice had a facetime with the IPOB leader in the past, reminded Ekpa of Kanu’s warning and desire for the sit-at-home orders to cease, but Ekpa responded sharply.

“I ignore that because he is not a free man.

“He is just playing his voice when he was a free man talking with you.

“So, what you heard in the court-does it sound the same?

“I will listen to him when he becomes a free man.

“And not only when he becomes a free man.

“He has to come to Finland and sit one on one with me before I can listen to him.

“That’s my condition.

“The reason why he is being incarcerated today is because of what I am doing, because of the Biafra.

“So, he cannot be captured because I know the reason they captured him is to end Biafra and then you expect me to dance to their tune.

“It is not possible.

“Even if they bring him out today and stays in Nigeria there and say Simon Ekpa stop”.

To emphasize the gravity of the sit-at-home orders to Ekpa, the journalist recounted a story about his friend from Orlu in Imo State.

This friend had lost his father two years ago and his brother earlier in 2024.

But he had not organized their funerals due to insecurity and fear of the so-called unknown gunmen.

The journalist noted that this troubling situation was occurring in multiple locations across the South East, and people believed that it arose from the militant’s confrontation with the Nigerian Security Forces.

In his response, however, Ekpa attributed the non-holding of funerals in the South East to the Nigerian Government.

He claimed that the government had been killing the Biafran people for many years.

“The reason is because the Nigerian terrorist army and police have been killing our people for many years, even before I joined the Biafra struggle.

“They kill them in Aba where they went to pray.

“And over 150 people were killed in cold blood.

“Nobody asked question.

“They went to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s house, burnt everywhere, killed people there.

“Nobody was arrested.

“And these people they are killing never raise a gun against them, only having flag.

“They killed in Enugu. They killed in Ebonyi.

“So, they went to Kenya to kidnap Mazi Nnamdi Kanu against International Law, and I took over from there.

“And I said under my leadership in this Biafra Movement, you can never kill Biafran again and go free in Biafra Land.

“So, I raised an army called Biafra Liberation Army to confront these killers.

“And you, these killers-some of them are repentant Boko Haram.

“So, they recruit them, push them to Biafra land and people are not talking about that.

“And when they go to villages, they open GPMG and then start spraying bullets.

“Even fowls are getting killed.

“So, I said under my leadership, Nigeria can never kill any Biafra again and live to tell the story.

“So, we raised the Biafra Liberation Army to deal with them.

“And they are neutralizing them.

“So, when they neutralize them, they will come after the villagers.

“And let me tell you. Is that the country you want to be proud of?

“When you have people carrying gun and defending their land, and instead of them to go after those people that are defending the land, they will go against innocent people.

These are the reason why people are not coming for burial.

“So, tell it the way it is. And it is not my fault.

“It is the fault of the Nigeria terrorist army who cannot confront the Biafra Liberation army, but confront innocent people.

“And why they are doing it is so we can lay down our weapons, but that is not going to happen.”, Ekpa stated

Ekpa, who touts himself to be Nnamdi Kanu’s disciple on Biafra restoration, had consistently vowed to ignore Kanu’s orders from Nigeria.

In July 2023, Ekpa declared that he would not heed Kanu’s directives from the DSS, a hospital, or anywhere in Nigeria.

He also stated that he would not communicate with Kanu via phone, video call, television call, or internet call.

He would only meet with him in person in Finland.

Ekpa’s rejection of Kanu’s orders followed an alleged handwritten letter from Kanu.

Alloy Ejimako, Kanu’s lawyer, delivered the letter instructing Ekpa to halt all sit-at-home activities in the South East.

However, Ekpa dismissed the letter as fake and told his followers to ignore it.

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