Simon Ekpa’s Followers declare United States of Biafra in Finland while he is unbailable, IPOB denies partisanship in the Declaration
According to a report from The Punch, the followers of Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra who is being detained in Finland barring court trial in May 2025 on charges of financing and promoting terrorism, held a convention in Finland on Friday 29 November.
Lots of Nigerians of Igbo origin trooped into Finland for the 2024 convention where Biafra was redeclared as an independent nation.
During the convention which took place in Lahti, Finland, the independent State of Biafra was redeclared and named the United States of Biafra.
Dr Ngozi Orabueze, a United States resident working as a family nurse in Atlanta, Georgia, was the convener of the convention, claiming to be the Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Simon Ekpa.
She was first appointed by Ekpa in March 2023 as Minister of Health, Oil and Gas, Biafra Republic Government in Exile, The Punch reports.
Ngozi had earlier posted a video on her twitter handle @ngoziora – where she has good number of followers – of Igbos making pass at the Finnish airport, with a caption that Biafrans were trooping into Finland ahead of the 2024 convention and redeclaration of its nation State, and also revealed that it would be broadcasted live on X space.
“Biafrans are trooping into Finland in droves ahead of the re-declaration of the independent state of Biafra,” she wrote.
According to the report, the redeclaration of Biafra was slated for December 2, however, with Simon Ekpa’s arrest and detention, the possibility became very slim.
Yet, on 29 November, the independent state of Biafra was declared.
Before the declaration it is reported that a video of Ekpa addressing the crowd was played, and immediately he ended his speech, the crowd went into a frenzy, chanting USB (United States of Biafra) several times.
The detained Prime Minister spoke saying;
“We were free before Lord Lugard came. If you want the oil, take it and leave us alone. We are tired of living as baboons and monkeys. We want to be given the opportunity to practise what we have studied.”
The States in the new United States of Biafra were announced, namely; Anambra State, Okigwe State, Nnewi State, Ogoni State, Opobo State, Ikwerre State, Etche State, Okrika State, Ngwa State, Orlu State, etc.
Ngozi Orabueze wrote after the event on her X page saying;
“Breaking: It is done. Biafrans in Finland for the declaration of the independent United States of Biafra. Power belongs to the people.
“Biafra has been re-declared today, 29th of November 2024, by Ngozi Orabueze, the Chief of Staff, United States of Biafra. Congratulations to all Biafrans all over the world.
IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful while reacting denied IPOB’s participation or organizing of any convention, saying those are the criminal faction of Ekpa who have been destroying Igboland.
“IPOB has no involvement in any conference. Those people (Ekpa’s faction) are criminals supporting illegal activities to destroy our land. There is no such thing as a declaration of Biafra from our side.
“Any claim that IPOB is hosting a conference is false. When IPOB decides to make such an important announcement, the whole world will know. Those making such statements are fake,” he said.
Also reacting to the event was the spokesperson of Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Sunday Edeson, who also spoke in line with Emma Powerful, stating that everyone has the right to declare Biafra, that the Simon Ekpa’s faction did theirs in Finland, however, the fact remains that Biafra is still under Nigeria’s leadership.
He also pointed out that declaring Biafra does not mean the Igbos are free from the Nigerian Government, that they still use Nigerian currency.
“Everyone has the right to declare. They declared their freedom in Finland, but we know that we’re still under Nigerian leadership. We support them.
“Declaring independence in Finland doesn’t mean we’re free from the Nigerian government. We still use Nigerian currency, and security agencies are still from Nigeria. So, we’re still under Nigeria’s control,” Edeson said, according to The Punch.
Recall that Igbo Tv had recently reported the court hearing of Simon Ekpa in Finland, where he denied being the Prime Minister of Biafra, or having anything serious to do with the movement, claiming he was just a content creator.
Igbo Tv also reported that Simon Ekpa’s trial is slated for May 2025, until then, he is unbailable.
