By Oginyi Ruth
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-East on Sunday berated the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over its attack on the former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Nuremberg, Germany.
Some IPOB members had violently attacked Ekweremadu while attending the 2nd Annual Igbo Cultural Festival held in Nuremberg, Germany, on Saturday.
Okowa, while reacting to the development, condemned the attack, saying that Ekweremadu has remained one of the strong voices for better treatment and justice for Ndi-Igbo and all parts of the country.
The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Sunday in Asaba, described the incident not only as despicable but pathetic and an embarrassment to Nigeria as a country.
Okowa posited that the attack on the Enugu West Senator was a misplaced and unwarranted since the former Secretary to the Enugu State Government (SSG) had been a great patriot and defender of his people as well as the down trodden in the society.
He added that Ekweremadu did not deserve such kind of ill-treatment from people who branded themselves as members of IPOB in far away Germany.
According to him, “I join men of goodwill in condemning the attack on Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who has been a great patriot and leader of exemplary behaviour.
“It is pathetic and shameful that an event organised to chart the way forward for the Igbo race and Nigeria in general ended up in such a disgraceful and embarrassing manner to the country. As Nigerians, we are trained to respect our elders and leaders as well as people in authority.
“I am particularly happy that some of the culprits have been arrested and I urge the German authorities to take necessary action on the perpetrators of the heinous act. I urge all Nigerians, home and abroad, to be of good behaviour wherever they find themselves as such acts of lawlessness do not bring glory to the nation.”
Speaking in a similar manner, the chairman of the PDP South-Eeast, Chief Austin Umahi while also condemning the attack on the former Deputy Senate President, urged him not to be discouraged by the incident in fighting his people and Nigerians in general.
The South-East PDP appealed to Ekweremadu to see the attack as one of the many sacrifices he has to pay in pursuit for justice and better treatment for Ndi-Igbo both within and outside the country.
ALSO READ: Omo-agege Condemns IPOB’s Attack On Ekweremadu, Calls For Probe
In a statement on Sunday, Umahi expressed sadness over the action of the group against Ekweremadu who he said has been in the forefront of the struggle against the marginalization of Ndi-Igbo in the country.
The Zonal chairman while pelting IPOB, noted that he was shocked that some individuals could hide under the name of the proscribed IPOB to attack Ekweremadu after all his efforts as the leader of South-East Senate Caucus.
He observed that for the lawmaker to have left Nigeria for Nurnberg in Germany to attend the 2nd Annual Festival and convention organized by Ndi-Igbo resident in Germany was a demonstration of his genuine love for Ndi-Igbo.
Umahi however, advised any individual or group that has any genuine reason to agitate, to come through the South-East Governors Forum, the Ohanaeze Ndi-igbo and through other legitimate means within the Nigerian federation; rather than resorting to self-help.
