Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party, has condemned the attack on a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, by some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), in Germany.
Yaahoo Journalist had reported earlier that the IPOB members attacked Ekweremadu in Nuremberg, Germany on Saturday, August 17.
It was learned that the IPOB members attacked Ekweremadu during the annual cultural festival of the Ndigbo, apex social-cultural group in the south-east.
Speaking after the ugly incident through Uche Anichukwu, his media aide, Ekweremadu assured Ndigbo and his supporters across the nation that he was safe.
His words: “I attended the Second Annual Cultural Festival and Convention organised by Ndi-Igbo Germany in Nurnberg 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,” he said in the statement.
“I attended the Second Annual Cultural Festival and Convention organised by Ndi-Igbo Germany in Nurnberg 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,” Ekweremadu said in the statement.
“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 tried to engage them, but when they became unruly, I had to leave the venue. The organisers also invited the police and I was accompanied out of the venue,” Ekweremadu said.
Reacting to the incident in a series of tweets on Monday, Atiku said the violence was not the way to resolve issues.
Atiku tweeted, “The physical assault on the immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in Nuremberg, Germany, is an uncivilised and undemocratic action that I condemn in totality.
“To Senator Ekweremadu, I say that my family and I, and indeed most Nigerians, hold you in the highest esteem. An esteem that cannot be shaken by this incident.
“Finally, I call on those behind the assault to turn a new leaf and repudiate violence in all its forms, to seek peace and pursue it and to learn to give honour to whom it is due.”
