Tinubu urged to initiate Ekpa’s extradition over Biafra issue
Eze Chukwu, the Chairman of the Forum of National Youth Leaders for all Political Parties in Nigeria, has urged President Bola Tinubu to address the unrest in the South-East by adopting a similar approach to the one used to resolve the Niger Delta militancy.
In an interview on Friday in Abuja, Chukwu recommended implementing an amnesty program or similar reconciliation efforts to engage the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and reduce tensions in the region. He linked the agitation’s origins to the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), which eventually paved the way for IPOB.
Chukwu explained that both groups were created to highlight perceived injustices against the Igbo community. He emphasized that if the Igbo had been given fair treatment within Nigeria’s political and social framework, the agitation for Biafra might never have arisen. According to him, addressing these grievances earlier could have prevented the current situation.
“Now that the self-proclaimed IPOB leaders are in custody, the government should act swiftly to ensure no new leaders emerge and to find a lasting solution to this long-standing issue,” Chukwu said. He urged President Tinubu to expedite the extradition of Mazi Simon Ekpa and clearly outline plans to resolve the South-East crisis permanently.
He proposed offering amnesty to IPOB members, similar to what was done with Niger Delta militants, to ease tensions and prevent the rise of another leader. Chukwu believed that such measures would not only bring peace to the region but also solidify Tinubu’s legacy.
“If you can restore peace to the South-East, your leadership will be celebrated both now and in history. The recent arrest of Ekpa gives hope that the sit-at-home orders and related violence will finally end,” Chukwu added.
He also suggested that the establishment of a South-East Development Commission could facilitate the rehabilitation of IPOB members who choose to lay down their arms and participate in an amnesty program.
