Why Finland May Help Nigeria Rein in IPOB Leader, Simon Ekpa

By Cami Ezenwa

There are strong indications that the government of Finland may, after all, help Nigeria rein in Simon Ekpa, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

Finland-based Ekpa, has been issuing threats capable of sabotaging the upcoming elections, and which is believed to have been triggering violence in the South East region.

As a way of containing this and in pursuit of the ideal of a free and fair election, the Nigerian authorities are considering a containment move for Ekpa as priority.

It was this resolve that saw the federal government extend an appeal to the government of Finland to rein in Ekpa, who is resident there.

The minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada had appealed to the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Leena Pylvānāinen, for immediate action against Ekpa

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The Eagle reports that Ekpa’s relevance in the affairs of the group has soared in the recent, following his appointment in place of original leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who had been extradited and detained in Nigeria.

Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Leena Pylvānāinen

“There is this irritant that is threatening our relationships and we believe it shouldn’t be so. There is a gentleman by the name. Simon Ekpa, who is a Nigerian but he calls himself a Biafran, he has a right to.

“He is issuing some statements that are threatening the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming elections in Nigeria, and the Nigerian authorities and Nigerian government do not take this lightly at all. He has made these very inflammatory statements, he has made these calls on his followers to kill, to maim to destroy”, Dada had complained to the Finish ambassador.

“In fact, he has vowed that these elections would not be held in the Southeastern part of the country, and we believe it is not proper, we frown at it and the Nigerian government of course, is ready and willing to do all that it takes to ensure that these elections do hold in all parts of the country”, he said.

Though the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Leena Pylvānāine, did not make a categorical commitment on the matter, but she expressed the readiness of her country to respect the mutual understanding of over 60 years, between Nigeria and Finland.

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That relationship, she recalled took exceptions to violence of al forms.

“We are very much on the same side on this issue, this is something I want to make very, very clear. Finland condemns all violence and incitement to violence in all its forms. Political aims, of course, should be pursued through political means only. That is very clear, it stems from the fundamentals of our actions, it is enshrined in our constitution.”

“Now, we do have this irritant, as you called it, on our bilateral agenda and it is a topic on which there has been cooperation between the National Bureau of Investigation of Finland and the relevant Nigerian authorities. There have been contacts, information has been shared and we hope for more of that in order for all our authorities to do their job.

“And that is to investigate really what is going on and to see how these fits into the legal framework of Finland because we are, of course, speaking of a Finnish citizen.”

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Unconfirmed sources indicate that as much as Finland respects the fundamental human rights of persons, especially nationalities believed to be fighting for freedom, but that it does not however condole incitement to violence and any move capable of being interpreted as anti-democracy.

Besides the warm relations existing it and Nigerian is one that may not easily be wished away.

Nigeria is a strong economy within the African continent and a strategic alliance with it is not one that foresighted countries would wish to trifle with.

The Eagle learnt that there were mounting pressures on Ekpa to reverse his sit-at-home stance towards the upcoming elections.