By Jude Michael
Self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafran Government in Exile, Simon Ekpa, was nowhere to be seen when the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group he claims to be leading, protested in Finland near his home.
This comes amid indications that IPOB has resolved to root out factional leader of the group, Ekpa.
IPOB has severally disclaimed Ekpa as an imposter, who, it said, had long been expelled from the group.
But Ekpa on his own, has given himself the title of Prime Minister of Biafra Government in Exile, and has continually given orders from his Finland base, instilling fear through broadcasts, and causing residents to sit at home.
In what looked like a resolve to ridicule and diminish Ekpa, the IPOB leadership last weekend held a sensitization rally in Lahti, Finland, same area where Ekpa resides.
A press release by the spokesperson of IPOB, Mr Emma Powerful, commended all members of the group who attended, while chiding Ekpa for failing to attend, despite the proximity of the rally ground to his home.
He further referred to him as Crime Minister, instead of the tag of Prime Minister, which Ekpa arrogates to himself.
The release by Powerful read in part: ‘In line with IPOB’s global sensitization agenda on the plight of Biafrans and illegal incarceration of our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB hard cores were at Lahti, Finland on July 7, 2023, to continue the sensitization rally around Europe.
‘The Crime Minister went into hiding at the news that IPOB was in town. IPOB leadership commends all and sundry who participated in the just concluded rally to educate the people of Finland and the rest of the world that IPOB is a peaceful and one organization without any factions.
‘It is unfortunate that during the epic event at Lahti, Finland, the self-acclaimed Biafra Crime Minister was nowhere to be found. Finnish people wondered why the so-called Biafra Prime/Crime Minister didn’t show up to address his people but chose to hide, even when the rally took place in front of his apartment building.
‘We thought he dared IPOB to come and protest in Finland, but at last he was nowhere to be found. How can a true IPOB member hide from fellow Comrades?
‘We are using this medium to warn the ignorant followers of this scammer and one room Crime Minister to retrace their steps before it becomes too late. It is obvious that there is nothing in the fish brain. The message has been passed to Finnish people so that they will not be deceived.’
Powerful said the sensitization would continue around the world to show that IPOB was undivided and had no link with Ekpa.
