For Ekweremadu, the once upon a time Nigerian big man, those the gods want to kill, they first make mad, says a time tested adage. Ekweremadu ought to have seen the handwriting of an impending doom on the wall.
On August 17, 2019, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, was disgraced by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Nuremberg, Germany.
Ekweremadu was dragged around and stoned with different objects, around the venue of of an Igbo new yam festival event.
The lawmaker was later whisked away in a car, after several attempts to stop him from escaping.
In the video, one of the attackers was heard saying “imagine, people are dying on a daily basis, people are wailing on a daily basis and we are here enjoying.”
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, a video of the attack was widely circulated on social media.
In the video, a mob attacked the embattled senator as he attempted to enter the venue of the event in Nuremberg, Germany.
In the one-minute video, the mob chanted ‘go back’ while blocking the road for Ekweremadu from entering the venue.
The lawmaker had initially retreated but later turned back towards the entrance of the venue. In reaction, the men furiously dragged Ekweremadu out of the venue, ripping his cloth.
In another version of the video seen by this newspaper, the mob chanting songs in Igbo language, rough-handled the Senator and guided him to a waiting vehicle which immediately whisked him away. Some of them pelted the vehicle.
The attack portends Ekweremadu as a leader without the support of his people. Even when he returns from UK prison, like former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, he may not command love and respect of the locals as there were no projects and charitable deeds ascribed to his name to warrant such fanatical followership.
He has a running battle with EFCC over allegations of money laundering and illegal acquisition of properties.
There were unconfirmed reports of the embattled Senator arrow-heading the mismanagement of N400m meant for a Renal Centre to be built in Enugu, his home state.
