Senator Abaribe Applauds Arrest of Simon Ekpa, Criticizes His Role in South-East Violence

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South Senatorial District, has expressed support for the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the separatist agitator apprehended in Finland, calling it a positive development for the South-East region.

Abaribe, in a statement, emphasized that Ekpa’s arrest would serve as a deterrent to those inciting violence in the region. He accused Ekpa and his supporters of hiding behind the Biafran cause to commit crimes and create instability in the South-East.

In an interview with Channels TV, the senator stated, “The arrest of Simon Ekpa is very welcome because it will send a strong message to those at home who have been instigating violence under his influence. Ekpa has claimed to be just a content creator, not a serious figure, yet his actions have led to mayhem.”

Abaribe continued, “We’ve always stated that Ekpa’s activities are harmful and misrepresent the true spirit of Ndigbo. The original non-violent referendum quest by IPOB was hijacked by criminals using the IPOB platform to cause chaos in the region.”

In addition to his remarks on Ekpa, Abaribe addressed the controversy surrounding the acquisition of a new presidential jet, revealing that the National Assembly was not consulted on the deal. The purchase of an Airbus A330 for President Bola Tinubu was announced in August, drawing criticism due to the economic struggles faced by many Nigerians.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga defended the purchase, explaining that the jet was a refurbished model rather than a brand-new one. However, the explanation failed to quell public outrage, with many questioning the timing of the acquisition.

Abaribe, who serves in the National Assembly, criticized the lack of consultation, saying, “No one in the National Assembly was informed or asked to approve the purchase of a new plane. I can confirm that nothing was presented to us for approval, and I’ve been in the National Assembly for a long time. Ask anyone, no one knew about this.”

He argued that the failure to involve the National Assembly in the decision undermines the legislative body’s role in overseeing the executive branch.