Simon Ekpa, the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra (IPOB) says the failure of the political class to address issues of national development bedeviling the country is one of the reasons for the group’s persistent agitation against the Nigerian state.
Ekpa, who is based in Finland stated this in a statement circulated among media houses on Thursday.
The statement was signed by Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, the Chief of Staff to the acclaimed Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE).
Orabueze said Ekpa made these remarks at the World Peace Summit held in South Korea.
The statement quoted
Ekpa as lamenting the social, political, and economic crises in the country, insisting that the situation must be reversed
According to the statement, the situations which created the atmosphere for the social unrest in the country, in 1967, has been allowed to continue till today.
“These existing conditions coupled with the continuous exploitation of the indigenous mineral resources to the detriment of the host communities, have made the viability and existence of Nigeria and Biafra as one country not only very difficult but impossible,” Ekpa said in the statement.
He also defended the establishment of a Biafran Government in Exile (BRGIE), saying the objective was ” to eradicate terrorism” from the South East region.
Also at the 9th Anniversary of the 18th HWPL World Peace Summit, IPOB canvassed enthronement of a ” political system that would put an end to the constant killing of innocent indigenes of Nigeria by rehabilitated and reintegrated terrorists.”
It will be recalled that Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a co-operative organisation of International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), has severally engaged both governments and civil society in peace conferences aimed at resolving conflicts and establishing sustainable peace in the world.
OrabezeBRGIE Chief of Staff, Dr.
Orabueze, the BRGIE Chief of Staff was also during the summit commended for her role in “seeking peaceful means towards resolving issues surrounding the welfare of the South East and South South regions of the country.”
According to the group, the clamour of the region would improve the living standards of its citizens, improve lifestyle, increase per capita income, and increase sense of responsibility as citizens.
“The current policy of the Nigeria government to rehabilitate and reintegrate known terrorists into its system will also be checked and curtailed,” it stated.
The IPOB mentioned several ways it has explored several ways to end social ills in the South East, saying chiefly among these is calling on the federal government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. (vitalnewsngr.com)
