Governors in the South East and other regional leaders have been advised by the Simon Ekpa-led Biafran Republic Government in Exile, or BRGIE, to refrain from engaging in negotiations with Nigeria over the Biafra declaration and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release.
Ekpa, who is known as the Prime Minister of BRGIE, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday through his official X handle.
This comes as South-East governors, lawmakers and other groups from the region and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi recently drummed support for the release of Kanu as a panacea to peace in the region.
However, BRGIE, headed by Ekpa, has warned the governors and the leaders against such negotiation, claiming that they lacked legitimacy.
According to him, it was only BRGIE that had the legitimate right to call for the release of Kanu and Biafra declaration.
He noted that those parading in the name of negotiating for Nnamdi Kanu’s release were sabotaging Biafra liberation.
“Those selfish politicians and traditional rulers who are now jumping up and shouting negotiation with Nigeria after sabotaging the Biafra liberation are warned never to speak again.
“The warning will not come again; none of you have the mandate to speak for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu or Biafrans.
“We will not allow anyone to negotiate anything from tonight (Sunday).
“The Biafra Republic Government In Exile remains the only legitimate entity to do that.
“Those selfish individuals now taking center stage and shouting negotiations should stay away. Biafrans are not joking”, he said.
Recall that in the past week, the call for Kanu release resonated in the media space after Southeast governors met in Enugu State.
In a communique read by Governor Hope Uzodinma after the meeting on July 3, 2024, the governors resolved to meet with President Bola Tinubu to secure Kanu’s release.
Ekpa on his part had also earlier in May urged the Nigerian government to engage its Finland counterpart for mediation to end the conflict in the region.
Written by Ogaga Ariemu