Simon Ekpa hires American lobbyist to advance Biafra’s cause in the United States

Simon Ekpa, a controversial Biafra agitator, has hired an American lobbying firm, Moran Global Strategies (MGS), to advance agitation for the independent state of Biafra.

Mr Ekpa, based in Finland, heads Autopilot, a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB is a separatist group agitating for the creation of an independent state of Biafra from south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria.

The two regions are usually called “Biafra” or sometimes “Biafra land” by IPOB and other separatist groups in the area.

Mr Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen, often addresses himself as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile (BRGIE)

The lobbying firm, Moran Global Strategies, is owned by a former US lawmaker, James Moran.

Mr Ekpa applied in June 2024 to engage Moran Global Strategies for their services, a letter of their agreement exclusively obtained by our correspondent staff showed.

The lobbying firm, in the letter dated 10 June 2024 and signed by Mr Moran, its founder, assured Mr Ekpa that they would “devote our best efforts to representing Biafra” in line with the contract agreement.

Mr Ekpa, on behalf of the BRGIE, signed the letter of agreement with the MGS on 12 June 2024.

Major roles

The MGS, according to the contract agreement, will help Mr Ekpa, addressed as prime minister of the BRGIE, to convince the US government to support the secession of Biafra from Nigeria.

“Under terms of this letter agreement, MGS agrees to provide Biafra with strategic advice and facilitate interaction with appropriate members of the Executive and Legislative Branches of the US government, as well as third-party interests.

“MGS will support Biafra’s fundamental goal to encourage the United States government to support Biafran independence and to recognize Biafra as the only entity which represents Biafra,” part of the agreement reads.

“MGS will promote the narrative to US governmental and non-governmental stakeholders that Biafra, once an established, independent state, with the Biafra’s stewardship, will be a close ally of the United States, as well as a bulwark against Islamic terrorism in the region.”

Part of the role of the MGS, as stated in the agreement, is to advise the US government and private sectors concerning the challenges faced by the people of Biafra.

The lobbying firm will equally share the arguments with the government about why Biafra should be recognized as an independent state from Nigeria.

“MGS will also educate US and non-US stakeholders on issues of concerns pertaining to the Government of Nigeria, including, but not limited to human rights abuses, religious freedom issues, including persecution of Nigeria’s Christians, increasing Islamic fundamentalism within the Nigerian government, the Nigerian government’s alignment with US adversaries, and broader security concerns, among other topics,” the agreement further read.

It said the US government would be encouraged to engage BRGIE directly and through advocacy by the US Congress and others, including faith-based and human rights organization's and think tanks.