By Muhammad Mamman
Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has taken aim at Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, accusing him of double standards for failing to comment on the conviction of Nigerian-born Finnish separatist, Simon Ekpa.
Ekpa, 40, was last week sentenced to six years in prison by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland after being found guilty of terrorism-related offences, aggravated tax fraud, incitement to commit terrorist acts, and breaches of the Lawyers Act. The court ordered that he remain in custody.
According to the judgment, Ekpa sought to promote the secession of Nigeria’s South-East region, Biafra, through unlawful means between August 2021 and November 2024.
Reacting via X on Monday, Omokri criticised Obi’s silence, recalling how the former Anambra governor had previously called for the arrest of Fuji star Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, over an altercation with airline ValueJet.
“With alacrity and gusto, Peter Obi demanded the arrest and trial of King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, aka K1 De Ultimate, after his clash with ValueJet. Yet this same Peter Obi said Nnamdi Kanu’s trial ‘doesn’t make sense,’” Omokri posted. “He wanted KWAM 1 in prison and Kanu free.”
Omokri further argued that if Ekpa had been convicted in Nigeria, Obi would have accused President Bola Tinubu of ethnic bias.
“If Simon Ekpa had been convicted in Nigeria, Peter Obi would have accused President Tinubu of intolerance and ethnic victimisation. Now he refuses to say a word about Ekpa’s conviction in Finland. Maybe he’s in mourning,” Omokri quipped.
