The Nigerian government had officially declared June 12 as Democracy Day, but this announcement was met with opposition from the agitator.
Ekpa, a Finland-based lawyer and Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, expressed his disapproval of the Democracy Day celebration and stated that such an event was nonexistent in Igboland. Through various pictures posted on his Twitter account, Ekpa illustrated the lack of activities on the streets, roads, and markets in the Southeast region during the designated day.
Furthermore, Ekpa criticized the leadership of Oheneze, a socio-cultural organization representing the Igbo people, emphasizing that they did not truly represent the interests of Biafra. According to Ekpa, Oheneze only represented a small fraction of the Biafra population, consisting of those who believed in the unity of Nigeria. He claimed that the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, which he leads, had abolished the celebration of Nigeria's Democracy Day within the Biafran territory.
In his Twitter post, Ekpa asserted, "Oheneze doesn't represent Biafra. They claim to represent Ndigbo that believe in one Nigeria; however, they represent only 1% of the Biafra people. Today, we have defeated them again, as there is no celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day in Biafraland. The Biafra Republic Government has abolished it In Exile. It is what Biafraland looks like today on Nigeria democracy day 12.6.2023."
The statement from the Biafra agitator highlights the ongoing tension and differing perspectives within Nigeria regarding the celebration of Democracy Day. While the Nigerian government recognizes June 12 as a significant day in the country's democratic history, some separatist leaders, like Ekpa, reject the observance and assert their commitment to the Biafran cause. These divisions reflect the complex political landscape in Nigeria, where aspirations for self-determination persist alongside the broader struggle for democracy and national unity.