The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, his Deputy, Ovie Omo-Agege, Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu, have condemned in strong terms, the attack against the immediate past Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu in Germany Saturday , by people said to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB).
Ekweremadu had on Saturday in Nuremberg Germany, at the Second Igbo Annual Cultural Festival and Convention organised by Ndi-Igbo Germany attacked by a mob which identified itself as IPOB members in diaspora .
Video of the embarrassing attack on Ekweremadu who was to deliver a key note address at the gathering went viral in the social media on Saturday, the veracity of which the serving Senator confirmed in a personal signed statement later .
Miffed by the ugly incident, the Senate President in a statement issued in Abuja Sunday, described the attack as barbaric and incredibly absurd .
He said, “It is incredibly absurd for anybody to blame the distinguished Senator for the violent criminal activities in his home base, the purported reason cited by the mob for the bewildering attack.
“Senator Ekweremadu, like all his distinguished colleagues in the Ninth Assembly of the Senate, is concerned about the insecurity and other challenges in that area and other parts of Nigeria. Senator Ekweremadu has also been at the forefront of the patriotic efforts to find lasting solutions to the challenges.
“The barbaric attack on Senator Ekweremadu at a forum to which he was invited to contribute to charting a course for the progress and happiness of Ndigbo debase our values as civilised people. It is most reprehensible and should be condemned by all right-thinking Nigerians”.
He consequently called on the German authorities to identify those involved in the despicable act so that the law can take its course against them just as he urged Senator Ekweremadu not to be deterred by the incident from his path of service to his people and Nigerians in general, but to take it as part of the sacrifice of leadership.
Omo- Agege in his own reaction through a separate statement, said it was not only a dastardly exportation of irrationality but an aggressive international affront against the image of Igbo and Nigeria.
He expressed shock over the undeserved assault and called on law enforcement agencies in Germany to investigate and bring to book all those involved in the vicious attack.
“What they did is not only a violent assault against the good image of the Igbo race across the world but an aggressive attack against the traditional norms of a people known to be hardworking and respectful of meaningful contributions by leaders such as Senator Ekweremadu.
“Such criminal attack, along with other anti-social attempt to accuse, condemn and lynch anyone remains utterly condemnable and illegal, notwithstanding whether it takes place on Nigerian or foreign soil as it is the easiest invitation to anomie,” he said.
Enyinnaya Abaribe in own reaction, described as reprehensible and utterly sacrilegious, the attack on former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu by some persons claiming to be members of IPOB in Nuremberg, Germany.
Abaribe not only condemned the despicable act, but said it smacks of utter ignorance of the prevailing situation at home with regards to what the leaders are doing in the circumstance.
“It is a brazen show of ingratitude to a man who has been at the fore front in the struggle for all that is good for the Igbo race”, he said.
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, in his own reaction through a personally signed statement, said the attack was irritating , barbaric and unacceptable which according to him, calls for strong condemnation from all genuine Igbo leaders and Nigerians generally .
He said, “after watching a viral video of the physical attack on former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweramadu, I was not only disappointed but irritated and disturbed with the action of some members of IPOB.
“The assault on the senator is a slap on Igbo leaders regardless of age, party affiliation and religion.
“The perpetrators of the uncivilized act must face the wrath of the law.
“Senator Ekweramadu is not only one of the Igbo leaders but also a prominent Nigerian and as such should be accorded due respect by all and sundry at home and abroad.
“For the South East to move forward, the people of the region must embrace dialogue as a way of resolving pertinent issues and eschew violence”
He therefore appealed to leaders of the various Igbo groups to educate their members on the consequences of social vices.
