Following his comments on the recent edition of 90MinutesAfrica with Rudolf Okonkwo about the “Biafra struggle” and the Sit-at-Home Order of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) which has resulted in the maiming and death of countless persons in the past two years, Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and vocal rights activist, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has become the subject of intense online and offline death threats
During the conversation, Odinkalu expressed his disagreement with the mthods employed by the IPOB group in their agitation to for an independent state of Biafra
According to him, a Sit-at-Home can only work if it is voluntary. He said the violence used by IPoB members and its sympathizers to enforce the order has caused more harm than good to the people of the South-East as it has resulted in great loss for the zone in lives, impoverishing the zone.
He also lamented that he has lost a lot of close associates and relatives to the violent rampage of IPOB Members.
“I have lost multiple family members,” he lamented. He called out Simon Ekpa, saying his irresponsibility had led to wanton bloodletting and killings across the region.
The Chairman of the Truth, Justice and Peace Commission (TJPC) explained that any sit-at-home observance should be voluntary, and a case where people are shot at, killed, and desecrated for disobeying Ekpa directive is unacceptable.
Prof. Odinkalu acknowledged the right of people to withdraw their habitual allegiance from any authority as a form of protest, but he insisted that that withdrawal must be exercised voluntarily.
“When you go about shooting people because they are trying to go and survive, that is no longer sit-at-home,” he said, criticizing the antics of the secessionist group.
The law professor also drew attention to some factors contributing to Simon Ekpa’s and his group’s relevance in the southeast. He alluded that Simon Ekpa is exploiting the lacuna created by government failure in the southeast.
“If the government were relevant to the people, you would not be having an idiot like Simon Ekpa, sitting in Finland with a wife who is white, telling Nigerians what to do,” Odinkalu said. “It is because the politicians in the region have failed the people; that’s why people like Simon Ekpa are able to do what they are doing.”
However, his comments did not go down well with IPOB Apologists and Supporters who have since launched an online campaign of threats against Odinkalu and his family.
One user, identified as “Abcooz357579Z” wrote: “@ChidiOdinkalu U Insulted Simon ekpa our PM and u are here clapping for Fulanis who his slaughtering people, just better run away from Biafra land because nah ur blood we go use take wash plate.” By yesterday afternoon, Twitter had locked the handle for violating its rules. Various other handles were also under imvestigation for being part of what appeared to be a co-ordinated campaign of threats and intimidation by IPOB activists against Odinkalu & his family.
One X user, @IykeVinco wrote, “All the information about this ijiotic Chidi is here for Biafra Liberation Army to take note”, posting what he claimed to be information about Odinkalu’s home. He ended “We are not joking.” Another, @ify_nwobodo had done the same. At the time of reporting, the information was reported to be circulating in IPOB digital platforms.
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