Ekweremadu attacked by IPOB in Germany
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned “in its entirety”, the attack on the former deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Germany.
Her statement, late Saturday followed the emergence of a viral video of an attack on the 57-year-old who is a serving Senator in the country
Dabiri-Erewa said the Ekweremadu was attending the 2nd Annual Igbo Cultural Festival in Nuremberg as a speaker/special guest of honour when he was reportedly beaten up.
“The incident is an embarrassment to the country,” she said.
Dabiri stated that reliable sources have said some of those who carried out the attack have been apprehended and she demanded action.
“We call on the German government and law enforcement agencies to ensure that there are consequences for their actions,” she said.
“It is also shamefully pathetic that an event which was nobly put together by the Ndi-Igbo community in Germany, whose members make up the majority of Nigerians living in Germany, to amongst other things provide a forum for the Diasporans and various stakeholders to network and to facilitate a better cooperation between German and Nigerian businesses, ended up in such a disgraceful manner.”
She however called on Nigerians to be of good behaviour wherever they find themselves because such incidents tarnish the image of the country.
Recall that earlier on Saturday Ekweremadu was on Saturday physically attacked by the mob while attending a cultural event in Germany.
Mr Ekweremadu, who confirmed the attack in a statement, said the attackers were members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), a South-East secessionist group.
Earlier in the day, the video of his attack was widely circulated on social media.
In the one minute video the mob chanted ‘go back’ while trying to deny Mr Ekweremadu entry.
The lawmaker had initially retreated but later turned back towards the entrance of the venue. In reaction, the men furiously dragged Mr Ekweremadu out of the venue, ripping his cloth.
However, in a statement reacting to the incident, a media aide to the lawmaker, Uche Anichukwu, claimed Mr Ekweremadu was well received by the Ndi-Igbo community in Germany.
The statement said things, however, went out of hand when members of IPOB frontally denied the lawmaker entry to the venue of an event to which he was invited to deliver a speech.
Mr Ekweremadu was quoted as saying: “I attended the Second Annual Cultural Festival and Convention organised by Ndi-Igbo Germany in Nuremberg today where I was billed to give a keynote address along with the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who, however, could not make it eventually”.
“I was given a resounding welcome by Ndigbo in Germany and everything went smoothly until some men, who identified themselves as IPOB members stormed the venue and began to complain about the killings in the South East, stressing that there would be no Igbo event at the venue.
“I have received thousands of solidarity calls and messages from well-meaning Ndigbo. I want to assure them that I am hail and hearty. I have also spoken with the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.”
