|
Listen to article
|
The Coalition for the Advancement of Good Governance (CAGG), a prominent South-East civil society organization, has vehemently denounced Simon Ekpa, leader of the Autopilot Group, for peddling a false narrative of a sit-at-home order, which CAGG asserts is nothing more than a product of media sensationalism and the fevered imagination of its promoters.
The CAGG has branded Ekpa and his tiny clique of supporters as economic vandals, seeking to ravage the Igbo economy, and lauded Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and security agencies for their swift and decisive action in safeguarding the state and its people.
In a press statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Enugu, the convener of CAGG, Dr Festus Nduka, described Ekpa as a “common criminal who is surreptitiously being sponsored by the enemies of Ndi Igbo to destabilize our peace-loving region, destroy our economy and incite the non-violent Igbo people against themselves.”
The CAGG leader alleged that Ekpa and his backers are orchestrating a phantom sit-at-home order in the South-East, with the ulterior motive of prolonging Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s detention under the Department of State Services (DSS) custody indefinitely.
“Finland must release Simon Ekpa and get him repatriated to Nigeria, let him come and face the music. He should be arrested and handed over to the international police to face his crimes against humanity in Nigeria.
“It is only a coward that will stay back in Finland, Europe; have his children attend the best schools and enjoy exotic alcohol from the blood money he is making from his criminal sponsors while claiming to be fighting for the Igbo nation. He should come back to Igboland and lead the fight instead of inciting our youths against the people,” the statement reads in part.
Nduka, in his appeal, urged fellow South-East governors to emulate Enugu Governor Peter Mbah’s proactive stance and unite against Ekpa’s manipulation, lamenting the tragic loss of young lives who are deceived by Ekpa’s false narrative on a daily basis.
Nduka urged parents to caution their adult children against being manipulated by Ekpa, who he noted has family members living comfortably in Europe, into serving as human shields, emphasizing that security forces would take all necessary measures to safeguard innocent lives.
The CAGG described the repeated calls for sit-at-home as a farce that has exceeded its limits, stating that no sensible individual would pay attention to such frivolous agitation, particularly in Enugu State where residents have moved on with their lives after the government’s decisive action.
“Sit-at-home should be treated as a sad memory of our past. It is a historic relic we must be ashamed of as a people of common ancestry. Our gene abhors laziness and violence. We, the Igbo people, are known the world all over as industrious and enterprising. We are being celebrated outside Igboland as a workaholic nation. We must not allow anybody to destroy that spirit we are known for. The Igbo elders, men, women and the youths must rise up against Ekpa and his criminal sponsors and deal with them. We must take back our collective destiny from criminals living in Europe and outside Ala-Igbo, and define the future for the sake of our children,” Nduka further stressed.
The CSO praised Governor Mbah as a modern-day Michael Okpara, the visionary Premier of the Old Eastern Region, noting that he is establishing a new framework for the region that will foster economic unity, enhanced security, sustainable development, and a world-class education system.
“Let us dedicate this paragraph in honour of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for the peace the people are now enjoying. He is the architect of the new Igbo nation. The re-engineering of the security architecture through the deployment of CCTV across the state, the effective collaboration and synergy among the security forces in the state and the spread of infrastructure going on have given credence that a new Igbo nation of economic prosperity is possible.
The Coalition for the Advancement of Good Governance (CAGG) called on other governors, representatives in the National Assembly, and those in positions of influence to come together and make the South-East a zone of peace and a shining example for other regions.
