Abaribe, who represents Abia South, stated that the arrest would deter purveyors of violence in the South-East region from continuing the mayhem being unleashed in the region.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South Senatorial District, has described the recent arrest of separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa, in Finland as a welcome development.
Abaribe, who represents Abia South, stated that the arrest would deter purveyors of violence in the South-East region from continuing the mayhem being unleashed in the region.
According to him, Ekpa and his supporters are hiding behind the Biafran agitation to perpetrate crimes in the region.
In an interview with Channels TV, Abaribe said, “The arrest of Simon Ekpa is something that is very, very welcome because this will tell all those people at home, who are purveyors of violence and instigated by Simon Ekpa that he actually said that he is just a content creator and not a serious person.
“We have always said that his activities in South East are totally wrong and not what Ndigbo stand for.
“The quest by the IPOB seeking non-violence referendum was turned by all these criminals. They are using IPOB to cause mayhem in the South-East.”
Speaking earlier on the presidential jet, the senator noted that the National Assembly was not consulted or presented with a request for the controversial purchase of a new presidential jet before the deal was finalised.
The Presidency had unveiled the acquisition of an Airbus A330 for President Bola Tinubu in August, sparking widespread criticism from Nigerians.
Many questioned the timing of the purchase, citing economic hardships affecting the majority of citizens.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga had defended the acquisition, stating that the aircraft was not newly manufactured but a “refurbished jet.”
Despite this clarification, the backlash persisted, with accusations that the National Assembly had played a passive role in the transaction.
According to Abaribe, “I am in the National Assembly, but I can tell you for a fact that nobody, quote me, nobody brought anything to the National Assembly to say please approve this for purchase of a new plane.
“It was done without my knowledge, nobody brought anything. I never saw any document and I have always been in the national assembly. Ask anyone, none.”
He stated that the Presidency's failure to submit a formal request to the National Assembly undermines the legislators' role as a check on executive power.