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South East Killings: Arrest Simon Ekpa Now, Nigerians Urge FG, EU, Finnish Govt
Following the five-day sit-at-home order that has led to the killing of many residents in the South-East recently, Nigerians all over the world are signing a petition appealing to the Finnish government, Nigerian government and the European Union to arrest Simon Ekpa, the brain behind the order.
As of the time of filing this report, 2,761 people on Thursday had signed the petition seeking for Ekpa’s arrest.
Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in a viral video, ordered the people of the South-East to observe a sit-at-home from December 9-14, 2022. An order that has been marked by bloodshed and destruction of lives and properties in the region by its enforcers.
Although IPOB, through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, denied ever issuing any sit-at-home order on the days mentioned above, violence had continued to reign in the region.
Consequently, aggrieved Nigerians are signing the petition calling for Ekpa’s arrest for “terrorism and genocide.”
The petition reads, “We call on the Finnish Government, EU, The Nigerian Government to arrest Mr. Simon Ekpa, and investigate all his heinous crimes and terror activities in Eastern Nigeria.
“One Simon Ekpa (also known as Ifeanyi Njoku), a Nigerian living in Finland, and holding Finnish citizenship, has by proxies, successfully established and coordinated an armed rebel group in Eastern Nigeria whom he now wields to destroy lives, property, and businesses in Eastern Nigeria.
“He’s been seen countless times, using his media platforms in Finland to issue orders to his armed goons in Eastern Nigeria to launch deadly attacks on millions of people in the region for flouting his sit-at-home orders.
“Simon is a separatist fighting for state secession but has never been brave enough to come home and lead the war from the front in Nigeria.
“He is rather igniting and fueling terror on his ethnic group who decline his call for secession.
“Simon’s action is stirring up bloodbath – a genocide in the region, and innocent women, children, the aged and youths are the victims dying everyday.
“Sign the petition, and share it everywhere, to call on the Finnish Government, EU, The Nigerian Government to arrest Mr. Simon Ekpa, and investigate all his heinous crimes and terror activities in Eastern Nigeria.”
The PUNCH reported on Tuesday that the detained IPOB leader, Kanu, condemned the attacks ongoing in the eastern region of the country following Ekpa’s five-day sit-at-home order.
According to the special counsel for Kanu and IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor, who visited Kanu in his DSS detention on Monday, the IPOB leader expressed his sadness over the attacks and expressed his sympathy for the victims.
Ejimakor had said, “I had a visitation with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu today (Monday).
“With profound sadness, he received news of the staggered attacks of the past few days across the South-East, including the one at my hometown.
“He asked me to strongly condemn the attacks on his behalf and convey his comfort to all the victims.”
In a similar report Kanu’s brother, Emmanuel, also condemned the attacks, saying Ekpa had acted like a “paid agent.”
Emmanuel said, “Whatever has happened was completely wrong. There was no order issued by the leader of IPOB.
“It beats my imagination that somebody who claims to be fighting for the cause of Ndigbo will at the same time be engaging in activities injurious to the same people.
“There is no doubt he is working for some people because no true-blooded Igbo will do something to jeopardise the lives of Igbo people. The leader has always said that he cannot take a life because he doesn’t give life. So, why will people take other people’s lives?
“Why will you kill the same people you say you are fighting to protect? It doesn’t make sense. It is just obvious that Ekpa is working for some people to destroy what the leader has built over the years. Why would he give a sit-at-home order? Under whose authority will he do that?
“My brother (Nnamdi Kanu) told me clearly that he did not authorise any person or group to order for sit-at-home. So, why do that? Who is he doing it to impress? It is only a paid agent that will behave the way he does,” Emmanuel concluded.
The Punch
Featured
Fubara Shuns Amaewhuele, Presents N1.1trn Budget to Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly
Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday, presented a N1.1 trillion 2025 budget proposal to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led Rivers House of Assembly.
He announced that Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) rose to over ₦250 billion naira, and it’s expected to close at ₦300 billion by the end of the year, marking a record 100% increase over the previous year.
This, alongside ₦300 billion received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), enabled the state to execute transformative projects across sectors.
Building on this success, the governor unveiled one trillion, one hundred and eighty-eight billion, nine hundred and sixty-two million, seven hundred and thirty-nine thousand, nine hundred and thirty-two, thirty-six Kobo (₦1, 188, 962, 739, 932. 36) for 2025 fiscal year.
The proposed budget comprises Recurrent Expenditure of ₦462 billion and Capital Expenditure ₦678 billion, reflecting a 44% to 56% ratio.
Governor Fubara outlined the expected revenue streams to fund the budget, including ₦264.3 billion from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), ₦18.2 billion from Statutory Allocation, ₦132.1 billion from Mineral Funds, ₦204.2 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT) and ₦32.2 billion from Refunds Escrow, Paris/ECA, ₦27.5 from Refands from Bank Charges and ₦20.6Bn from Excess Crude Account.
The projections are based on economic indicators such as an oil price of $80 per barrel, a production target of 1.8 million barrels per day, an exchange rate of ₦1,500 per dollar, and a 22% inflation rate.
Governor Fubara emphasised that the 2025 budget prioritises key sectors critical to the state’s development, including Agriculture to ensure food security; Education for improved access, infrastructure, and quality of learning; Healthcare; Social Investment to empower vulnerable groups and foster equity and Infrastructure Development to enhance connectivity and economic activities.
In his remarks, Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo commended the governor for his vision and commitment to the state’s progress.
The 2025 budget presentation marks Governor Fubara’s second since assuming office in May 2023, amidst ongoing legislative challenges.
Featured
Midoil Celebrates Staff, Signs MOU with Contractors, Host Community
By Eric Elezuo
Midoil Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited, has pulled all stops to give its staff a befitting Yuletide present as the year 2024 winds down.
The event coincided with the signing of the relevant documents with communities filing agreement with the State Government to ensure peace in the local community as well awarding wall fencing to three reputable contractors.
The event was held at the entrance of Serenecity Estate site, and drew together notable individuals connected with the Midoil Refinery projects including traditional rulers, members of the communities, contractors and stakeholders in the project.
In her welcome address, the Midoil Executive Chairman, Chief Elizabeth Omolara Akintonde, lauded every effort so far made by the communities, contractors, staff and stakeholders to see to the Midoil Reality.
She went down memorylane to tell the stories behind the successes, saying that ‘in all things, God’s name has been glorified as we all are still on our feet, and marching on stronger and better’.
Kickstarting the avalanche of activities at the event was the signing Memorandum of Understanding and payment of compensation between the company and the Mogo-Olowu community, who happened to be additional community compensated, and supervised by their lawyer, Barrister T. A. Ogunlaja.
Midoil/SereneCity wall fencing contract was signed by three reputable contractors to solidify the contract award for continuous fencing of the sprawling estate.
They include RIOA Investment Limited, Indepth Nigeria Limited and CYFA Contractors Limited.
Speaking on the MOU signed, Barrister Ogunlaja, who represented the community of Mogo-Olowu maintained that the event marked “the end of crises between Midoil and the host communities and the birthing of a new and smooth relationship.”
He observed that development slowed down as a result of the unresolved issues between the parties, and also because there was no community head to sign on behalf of the Mogo-Olowu community.
He also revealed that the MOU addressed a 30% allocation of workforce to the community.
“Everything is a win win affair,” he concluded.
Also lending his views on the new found camaderie between the company and the community, the Ererufu Community secretary, Mr. Omotola Adeboye Odubote, simply summarized the event as ‘development just happened’.
He reiterated settlement of all involved, adding indigenes of the community would be absolved in the project so long as they are qualified.
Chief Akintonde thereafter, took it upon herself to announce and reward five distinguished staff with a plot of land within the Serenecity Mixed Development Zone, certificate of appreciation for their hard work, diligence was also given.
Among those rewarded with portions of the SereneCity land are Dr (Mrs) Iyabode Obasa, Arch Jane Adaku-Udoukpo, Mrs. Blessing Fuham Matthew, Mr. Michael Folorunsho Sotome and Mr. Adekunle Folurunsho Bada.
Expressing her delight at the process, Mrs. Obasa, who had earlier received encomiums from the Chairman for her dexterity, noted that the day marks a turning point in the development of the Midoil Reality as communities linked to the property under development has pledged to maintain peace while sticking to their own part of the agreement which involves monetary gains at stipulated and agreed times.
“The signing today settles all encumbrances, and makes for a smooth take off and sailing of the Construction operations,” she said stressing that in a couple of months, the site would have taken a different shape for the better.
Corroborating her stand, the Project Coordinator, Architect Udoukpo, said that challenges in whatever guise have been cleared, noting that the signed contract ensured that each party is adequately taken care of.
It would be recalled that earlier in the year, a similar Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Midoil and the host communities, including Ererufu and Sekungba.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Akintonde further expressed her gratitude to all the stakeholders, reiterating that there was no room for failure, as everything planned will be carried out to the latter.
Distinguished personalities like Brigadier General Olubunmi Akintola (Retd), Serenecity Investors, Mr Buchi Okoye and Abiola Kokumo both of Moart Company Limited, community leaders, artisans, representatives of women and youth attended the colourful event.
Featured
179 Persons Feared Killed in South Korean Plane Crash
Apart from the two rescued victims of the Jeju Air plane that crash-landed at the Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Korea, the remainder of the 181 passengers on board have been presumed dead.
The accident occurred early Sunday morning with the aircraft colliding with a wall at the Airport and exploding.
“Jeju Air will spare no effort to respond to the accident.
“We are currently working to determine the exact cause and details of the situation,” an official of Jeju Air said.
“The aircraft has been in operation for 15 years with no history of accidents,” Jeju Air said in a statement.
South Korean authorities confirmed 96 dead so far.
The unfortunate situation has seriously affected flight operations at the airport.
“We deeply apologize to all those affected by the incident at Muan Airport. We will make every effort to resolve the situation. We sincerely regret the distress caused,” said the statement posted on Jeju Air’s website.
When it veered off the runway, the Jeju Air flight was coming from Bangkok and was trying to land at Muan International Airport.
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