You can help expand this article with text translated from
the corresponding article in Finnish. (July 2023) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Simon Ekpa | |
---|---|
Born | [1]
Ohaukwu,
Ebonyi State, Nigeria | 21 March 1985
Citizenship | Finnish |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2019–present [2] |
Organizations |
|
Political party | National Coalition Party |
Movement | Liberation of Biafra |
Awards | Ambassador for Peace |
Ekpa Simon Njoku, [3] generally known as Simon Ekpa (born 21 March 1985) is a Finnish local politician, legal adviser and former Nigerian athlete. [4] [5] He is the self-declared prime minister [6] of a government-in-exile, the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), [7] which was founded in 2023. It works for the total independence and reinstatement [8] of Biafra, a short-lived state in West Africa, which existed from 1967 until 1970. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
Ekpa Simon Njoku was born on 21 March 1985, in Ohaukwu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. [14] [1] After he completed his high school education, he enrolled at Aberystwyth University for a Master's degree in Law. He also went to Santiago Canyon College for additional lectures.[ clarification needed] [15] As a child, Ekpa was a local athlete but later developed to a professional, winning the 100 meters silver medal for Nigeria at the 2003 African Junior Athletics Championships in Cameroon. [1] Since 2007, Ekpa has lived with his family in Lahti, Finland, where he learned Finnish and did his military service. [16] He left athletics because of his knees failed him. [7] He was a candidate in the 2022 Finnish county elections under the National Coalition Party of Finland. [11] As of 2023 [update], he is a city councillor in Lahti. [16]
Ekpa served in the Finnish military at the Häme Regiment in Hennala (2013) as well as a reservist in the Finnish Army. [16]
Ekpa was noticed by Nigerian media in late 2019, when he posted a video claiming that Nigerian soldiers had been killed by Boko Haram. According to a Nigerian rights attorney, the purpose was to "disillusion Nigerians especially soldiers to resign from the Army". [2]
In July 2021, Ekpa became the lead broadcaster for Radio Biafra, associated with the separatist organisation Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) after the arrest of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. [1] [17] However, Ekpa was dismissed the same month, [18] [19] for violation of the rules of the organisation. [20] In 2022, IPOB accused Ekpa of illegal activities and stated that IPOB was a peaceful organization. [21] The Daily Post stated in July 2023 that Ekpa led a faction of IPOB. [22] According to Ekpa, IPOB was dissolved in a vote, renamed "Autopilot", and he became it's spokesman. Zubairu Dada, Nigerian minister, said the same year that "When [Ekpa] gives instructions, destruction follows. They cause killing, maiming, fires, whatever." Ekpa said in 2024 that he is in daily contact with Kanu. [7]
According to a report from Yle, Ekpa's activism started to gather mainstream attention in February 2023. The local Kokoomus parti in Lahti stated that they have started an internal investigation of these claims. Orji Anya Odim, representing the association Igbo Union Finland, stated "He should stop inciting hatred and provoking. Ekpa does not represent the Igbo people of Finland". The Nigerian government has also demanded Finland stop Ekpa's activities. [23] Yle interviews with residents of Enugu suggested extensive fear of Ekpa and compliance with his "stay at home" orders involving the 2023 Nigerian elections. [24] In late February 2023 Yle reported Ekpa is being suspected of having raised funds in an illegal manner by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation. [25]
Yle said in February 2023 that "estimates of the number of gunmen loyal to him vary greatly, from hundreds to tens of thousands, and his exact position in the separatist groups is unverified." [11] In April 2023, he declared that he had been appointed as the prime minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE). [6] Nigerian news media have variously referred to him as "prime minister" or "self-acclaimed prime minister" of the government-in-exile. [26] [27] [28] [29] Ekpa stated in 2023 that "Biafra Republic Government In-Exile is registered, approved and legal. Agent of Nigeria, take note!" [30] IPOB called the BRGIE "double agents sponsored by the Nigerian government to ridicule the IPOB movement". [31] Suomen Kuvalehti said in 2024 that "Be it as it may, Ekpa is now at least the prime minister by some." [7]
In December 2022, Ekpa ordered a five-day sit at home civil disobedience campaign [32] in the southeast and parts of southern Nigeria [33] from 9 to 14 December 2022. [34] On 14 June 2023, Ekpa announced a week-long sit at home campaign from 3 to 10 July 2023, [35] which according to The Whistler recorded 70% compliance. [36] The sit at home's have been enforced by gunmen. [22] [37] Ekpa has denied any violence against civilians. In 2023, he declared that no elections would be held in the region that year. [11]
In October 2023, Ekpa and cabinet members of BRGIE hosted a three-day convention in Helsinki, Finland, where a possible Biafran Referendum was discussed with participants and attendants from Biafra. [38] [39] Ekpa also announced the formation of the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group fighting for secession from Nigeria. [40] BLA was suspected to have killed a police in Imo State in November. [41] [42] According to Ekpa, it has a hundred thousand soldiers. [7]
The BRGIE has stated that it intends to issue a "declaration of Biafra independent state" in late 2024. [7] [43] In March 2024, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) declared Ekpa and more than 90 others "wanted" for "terrorism, kidnapping and other crimes." [44] [45] [46] Ekpa responded that he had nothing to do with Nigeria, and declared other people "wanted" in his turn. [47]
On 25 May 2023, the Universal Peace Federation awarded Ekpa Ambassador for Peace at the African Day Celebration in Helsinki, Finland. [9]
You can help expand this article with text translated from
the corresponding article in Finnish. (July 2023) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Simon Ekpa | |
---|---|
Born | [1]
Ohaukwu,
Ebonyi State, Nigeria | 21 March 1985
Citizenship | Finnish |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2019–present [2] |
Organizations |
|
Political party | National Coalition Party |
Movement | Liberation of Biafra |
Awards | Ambassador for Peace |
Ekpa Simon Njoku, [3] generally known as Simon Ekpa (born 21 March 1985) is a Finnish local politician, legal adviser and former Nigerian athlete. [4] [5] He is the self-declared prime minister [6] of a government-in-exile, the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), [7] which was founded in 2023. It works for the total independence and reinstatement [8] of Biafra, a short-lived state in West Africa, which existed from 1967 until 1970. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
Ekpa Simon Njoku was born on 21 March 1985, in Ohaukwu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. [14] [1] After he completed his high school education, he enrolled at Aberystwyth University for a Master's degree in Law. He also went to Santiago Canyon College for additional lectures.[ clarification needed] [15] As a child, Ekpa was a local athlete but later developed to a professional, winning the 100 meters silver medal for Nigeria at the 2003 African Junior Athletics Championships in Cameroon. [1] Since 2007, Ekpa has lived with his family in Lahti, Finland, where he learned Finnish and did his military service. [16] He left athletics because of his knees failed him. [7] He was a candidate in the 2022 Finnish county elections under the National Coalition Party of Finland. [11] As of 2023 [update], he is a city councillor in Lahti. [16]
Ekpa served in the Finnish military at the Häme Regiment in Hennala (2013) as well as a reservist in the Finnish Army. [16]
Ekpa was noticed by Nigerian media in late 2019, when he posted a video claiming that Nigerian soldiers had been killed by Boko Haram. According to a Nigerian rights attorney, the purpose was to "disillusion Nigerians especially soldiers to resign from the Army". [2]
In July 2021, Ekpa became the lead broadcaster for Radio Biafra, associated with the separatist organisation Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) after the arrest of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. [1] [17] However, Ekpa was dismissed the same month, [18] [19] for violation of the rules of the organisation. [20] In 2022, IPOB accused Ekpa of illegal activities and stated that IPOB was a peaceful organization. [21] The Daily Post stated in July 2023 that Ekpa led a faction of IPOB. [22] According to Ekpa, IPOB was dissolved in a vote, renamed "Autopilot", and he became it's spokesman. Zubairu Dada, Nigerian minister, said the same year that "When [Ekpa] gives instructions, destruction follows. They cause killing, maiming, fires, whatever." Ekpa said in 2024 that he is in daily contact with Kanu. [7]
According to a report from Yle, Ekpa's activism started to gather mainstream attention in February 2023. The local Kokoomus parti in Lahti stated that they have started an internal investigation of these claims. Orji Anya Odim, representing the association Igbo Union Finland, stated "He should stop inciting hatred and provoking. Ekpa does not represent the Igbo people of Finland". The Nigerian government has also demanded Finland stop Ekpa's activities. [23] Yle interviews with residents of Enugu suggested extensive fear of Ekpa and compliance with his "stay at home" orders involving the 2023 Nigerian elections. [24] In late February 2023 Yle reported Ekpa is being suspected of having raised funds in an illegal manner by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation. [25]
Yle said in February 2023 that "estimates of the number of gunmen loyal to him vary greatly, from hundreds to tens of thousands, and his exact position in the separatist groups is unverified." [11] In April 2023, he declared that he had been appointed as the prime minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE). [6] Nigerian news media have variously referred to him as "prime minister" or "self-acclaimed prime minister" of the government-in-exile. [26] [27] [28] [29] Ekpa stated in 2023 that "Biafra Republic Government In-Exile is registered, approved and legal. Agent of Nigeria, take note!" [30] IPOB called the BRGIE "double agents sponsored by the Nigerian government to ridicule the IPOB movement". [31] Suomen Kuvalehti said in 2024 that "Be it as it may, Ekpa is now at least the prime minister by some." [7]
In December 2022, Ekpa ordered a five-day sit at home civil disobedience campaign [32] in the southeast and parts of southern Nigeria [33] from 9 to 14 December 2022. [34] On 14 June 2023, Ekpa announced a week-long sit at home campaign from 3 to 10 July 2023, [35] which according to The Whistler recorded 70% compliance. [36] The sit at home's have been enforced by gunmen. [22] [37] Ekpa has denied any violence against civilians. In 2023, he declared that no elections would be held in the region that year. [11]
In October 2023, Ekpa and cabinet members of BRGIE hosted a three-day convention in Helsinki, Finland, where a possible Biafran Referendum was discussed with participants and attendants from Biafra. [38] [39] Ekpa also announced the formation of the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group fighting for secession from Nigeria. [40] BLA was suspected to have killed a police in Imo State in November. [41] [42] According to Ekpa, it has a hundred thousand soldiers. [7]
The BRGIE has stated that it intends to issue a "declaration of Biafra independent state" in late 2024. [7] [43] In March 2024, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) declared Ekpa and more than 90 others "wanted" for "terrorism, kidnapping and other crimes." [44] [45] [46] Ekpa responded that he had nothing to do with Nigeria, and declared other people "wanted" in his turn. [47]
On 25 May 2023, the Universal Peace Federation awarded Ekpa Ambassador for Peace at the African Day Celebration in Helsinki, Finland. [9]