physically harangued and pelted the former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu with stones, water packs and yams when he arrived Nuremberg, Germany to participate in a cultural festival organized by Igbos in Germany and left him in tattered clothes, as Ekweremadu tried to run for his life, before he was chased out of the event venue. Reports say some of the IPOB members involved in that episode have been arrested by the German police.
As for the national significance of the Germany event, the reactions that have trailed the incident shows a far-reaching national impact, drawing comments from across all segments and classes of Nigerians at home and the diaspora, a trend that has clearly turned an otherwise isolated and tribal issue to an issue of national import.
Many people though did not see the incident as a revolution, but it has an inkling of the attributes of a revolution, even if it was not so expressed by IPOB and even if the scope and modality of the event don’t qualify it as one. But the reasons adduced by the IPOB members point to a mindset associated with the revolutionary spirit. And as long as it involved Igbos against Igbos, you can call it an Igbo revolution.
More importantly, the deductions and inferences drawn by many eminent Nigerians from the even clearly show that the idea of a revolution cannot be entirely ruled out in any assessment of the Germany experience. In other words, it was a revolution that never happened or has not happened.
Apart from these two semblances of a revolution, there were other events before them that equally reflected the spirit of a revolution, where revolution is seen is perceived as any act by word or action that reflects extreme populist anger against the government of the day. In this class fall the extraordinary action of the clergy of Enugu Catholic diocese, few days preceding the Sowore revolution day and the Germany-Ekweremadu showdown. That was the day hundreds of priests of Enugu diocese embarked on a street march to the Enugu Government House in a free-for-all protest and vocal criticism of the lackadaisical manner the Enugu State government was handling the deteriorating spate of insecurity in the State, a very rare instance of religious personnel throwing piety and patience to the winds to express their opinion about the government of the day.
Again, some people might regard the priests’ action as not enough to be qualified as a revolution. Perhaps so. But then, more perceptive minds would perceive the priests’ public demonstration as a sign of an overstretched patience of the populace towards their leaders.
Back to the two revolutions that never happened, the one in Nigeria and the other in Germany. Both did not last beyond a few hours before they fizzled off, one in deference to the combined power of the gun in the hands of the army and the police, the other, because there was no Nigerian government to protest against.
However, the reactions that trailed the two failed revolutions are enough to indicate the spirit behind the two events, whether it is a spirit of criminality and treason or a spirit of patriotism and true nationalism. Clearly, the Nigerian government and its security institutions as well as the preponderance of the Nigerian political class buy the first of these two spirits as raison d’etre for the two revolutions that neve were. This is only to be expected of any Nigerian or group of Nigerians, in government or outside of government , who benefit from the status quo, as against the overwhelming majority of Nigerians who bear the brunt of an oppressive status quo. The balance of comments and reactions to the failed revolutions clearly support this assertion. Some of these reactions are ventilated below.
Also coming on the heels of Igbos in Germany condemnation, the Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide also condemned the IPOB attack on Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and called on the German law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Describing the assault on Senator Ekweremadu as a disgrace, Chief Nnia Nwodo, President General of Ohanaeze said in a statement that “the assault on Ekweremadu by Igbos in Germany, described as IPOB, is disappointing, grotesque and dangerous for Igbo solidarity.
“This violent, rude, impertinent, divisive and discourteous style of IPOB or IPOB-instigated miscreants is damaging to our cause. It strengthens the case of those who describe them as terrorists and weaken our case against the infringement of our fundamental human rights.”
“Ekweremadu negotiated the sureties and securities for Nnamdi Kanu’s release on bail. He does not deserve this picketing and disgrace. A disgrace to him is a disgrace to Igbo race.
“Whilst I condemn the attack on our revered son and leader, I call on the law enforcement agencies in Germany to bring to book the perpetrators of this despicable act. It is un-Igbo. It is disgraceful.”
Ndi-Igbo Germany, an umbrella body of Igbo people living in Germany which organized the cultural festival at which Ekweremadu was attacked, in condemning the attack said inter alia:
“Ndi-Igbo Germany (N.I.G) condemns in strongest terms this action by the members of IPOB in Germany against Senator Ike Ikweremadu. Ndi-Igbo Germany distances herself from any group that encourages violence, directly or indirectly.
“It is not acceptable that an Igbo man or woman would come to the occasion of an ancient Igbo traditional event like Iri-ji and not only cause commotion, but also physically attack an invited guest, a fellow Igbo brother from home and a senior Igbo elder statesman in the person of Senator Dr. Ike Ekweremadu. This is an abomination in Igbo land. And in a foreign land! Is this what we have come to in our united struggle, Ndi Igbo? A house divided against itself cannot stand.
“This single action will cost IPOB in Germany more than 70 per cent of her hitherto sympathisers. What IPOB Germany thought in their inept, diminutive, and megalomaniac mindset as a humiliation of Senator Ekweremadu is, in reality, a humiliation of the Igbo race in a foreign land”.
“No words can describe our shock, our consternation, and our sadness at this inexcusable, shameful and senseless attack. We apologise from the depths of our hearts that you had to experience such a horrible thing here in our midst. This is not how we are here. Please do not hold this incident against the 99 per cent law-abiding Umu-Igbo in Germany.
“Our apologies go to Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and to all well-meaning Igbo-Diasporan groups and associations both at home and abroad for this disgrace.
“We sincerely apologize to the National Assembly and indeed to our entire country for such an unwarranted assault on Senator Ike Ekweremadu by the IPOB members in Germany.”
He added, “Let this event be a rallying call to all Umu Igbo at home and worldwide to always seek unity rather than primitively turning against ourselves in senseless violence which will make neutral and friendly global nations turn away from us.
The South-east Governors Forum, in condemning the attack on Ekweremadu, called on IPOB to be reasonable and not allow themselves be used to disintegrate NdiIgbo.
In their statement, the governors said that the “South-East Governors are saddened with the ugly display and dance of shame by IPOB in Germany in attacking one of the finest leaders of Ndigbo, Senator Ike Ekweremmadu. We totally condemn it as we weep for them as they never knew the implication of their naked dance in public.
“We have also noted the empty threats by Mr. Nnamdi Kanu (a former ordinary Member of MASSOB) to attack Governors of South-East, Ohanaeze leadership and other Igbo politicians for not supporting the self-acclaimed supreme leader in his self-fight for the raw power and wealth while pretending to be fighting for Ndigbo.
“We wish to warn that should any Southeast person be attacked anywhere in the world, we shall, by all means, bring back Kanu to Nigeria to face the wrath of our people. It is madness for anyone who wants raw power with no experience to think that we Governors will support the killing of our people giving out our scarce land to herdsmen.
“If Kanu is serious, let him direct IPOB to fight those foreign killer herdsmen in their countries of origin since he claims the IPOB is in over 100 countries in the world”.
In the same vein, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan condemned the IPOB attack on his colleague, Ike Ekweremadu.
in a statement, the Senate President described the incident as a shameful assault.
The statement read: The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has unreservedly condemned the shameful assault on the former Deputy President of the Senate”.
“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.”
The Senate Chief Whip, a former Abia State governor, Orji Uzo Kalu, also condemned the attack on the former Deputy Senate President. Reacting to the incident, Kalu, described the act as uncivilized, unacceptable and barbaric.
In a statement signed by his media office, Kalu urged the people of the South-East to respect leaders at all levels and appealed to the Embassy of Nigeria in Germany and the German government to ensure that those behind the act were made to face the law.
“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.”
Also, the chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa condemned the attack on Ike Ekweremadu. In her own statement, Dabiri said the incident was an embarrassment to the country and called on the German government and law enforcement agencies to ensure that the perpetrators were made to face full consequences for their actions.
She said that it was shameful and pathetic that an event which was put together by Ndigbo community in Germany and whose members comprised the majority of Nigerians living in Germany, to amongst other things provide a forum for the Diasporans and various stakeholders to network and facilitate a better cooperation between German and Nigerian businesses, ended up in such a disgraceful manner.
Also in the long cue of politicians that condemned the attack on Sen. Ike Ekweremadu was Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, described the incident as “pathetic, shameful and an embarrassment to Nigeria”.
He described Senator Ike Ekweremadu as a great patriot and defender of his people as well as the down trodden, who did not deserve the kind of ill-treatment meted to him by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members in Germany.
“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,” he said
Even IPOB’s sister pro-Biafra group, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) also condemned the attack on former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.
MASSOB, in a statement by its National Director of Information, Comrade Edeson Samuel, said it condemns in its totality “the assault, physical attack and disrespectful actions of some Igbos against Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Germany which we later confirmed as members of IPOB in Germany through the affirmation of IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful.”
Saying the attack was disheartening, Edeson said it that some groups had turned the non-violent struggle for the actualization of Biafra state into an abusive and systematic gestapo against the supposed citizens of Biafra. “The physical attack on Ike Ekweremadu by IPOB is most commendable. Igbo culture abhors disrespect on elders and persons in authoritative positions.
“If Ike Ekweremadu is sabotaging or has sabotaged Biafra struggle as alleged by IPOB, what meaningful and acceptable steps has IPOB taken to draw the attention of Ike Ekweremadu to the alleged degradation?
Again, there were several eminent Nigerians who, as in the case of Sowore’s Revolution Now, reacted to the Ekweremadu incident from a different view point, and, while not condoning the physical attack on the former Deputy Senate President, believe that the event was beyond mere rhetoric of condemnation or threats and on the contrary a timely food for thought and timely caution for Nigeria’s political and cultural leaders.
Two of the,ook comment, Melaye said:”I warned about this in the Senate that we the elites and leaders are no longer safe. What happened in Nuremberg, Germany as regards with Ekweremmadu and IPOB is exactly what I warned about. I said that when the people starts coming after us, no place will be safe for us to hide. Even in Nigeria, we’re not safe anymore. Very soon, we willbe attacked even in our homes. We can’t continue to take Nigerians for granted and not expect a reaction. The earlier something is done about the state of our country, the better for us all. Nigeria is at a very fragile state at the moment”.
For SKC Ogbonnia, a 2019 APC presidential aspirant, the beating of Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Germany evokes painful lessons, particularly with Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and, of course, the continued detention of the frontline anti-corruption advocate and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore.
In a statement, Ogbonnia said “the sympathy generated from the Ekweremadu beating has to do with the fact that the specious victim is a prominent member of the Nigerian political elite. Such type of public flogging is usually reserved for the ordinary Nigerians, especially if they dare go close to their leaders”.
According to him, the German incident also marked the first time a major suspect in looting of Nigerian treasury is manhandled like a petty thief. “That explains why powerful politicians are mourning while millions of the masses are celebrating, adding that the unfortunate incident was a dog whistle that the foreign land is no longer a safe haven for Nigerian corrupt leaders and their families. Hopefully, the protest may turn out a blessing in disguise. Nigeria will be better served the day her political class shows trust in the country’s social amenities, especially the schools; hospitals; and tourism, including new yam festival”.
The erstwhile presidential aspirant continued: The nature of the beating on Ekweremadu shows that the Nigerian masses, particularly the Igbo youths, are gradually recognizing their true problems and true enemies. In short, the IPOB might have finally shattered Ekweremadu’s balloon of fake popularity, sustained by a cocktail of the ceaseless montage of paid propaganda, the cascade of mass deceit, and a vicious army of highly educated and well-paid toadies. The IPOB might as well grasp the reality that the Biafran problem is Biafran made”.
“The objective fact is that our people who have held power in Nigeria’s 4th Republic in the Biafran area from local government, the states, federal to President Goodluck Jonathanwere not the Hausa-Fulani. The world is also learning that Ekweremadu’s Enugu West Senatorial district has been home to the worst set of road networks in Nigeria throughout his fifth tenure in the senate. These include the most-deadly trio of Enugu/Onitsha, Enugu/PH, and Awgu/Oji-River highways, which has only served as money-spinners for the area politicians through series of funded but abandoned contracts”
“The angst expressed in Germany by IPOB is nothing but a page from the anti-corruption vision of the revolution that brought President Muhammadu Buhari to democratic power.
“What must no longer escape the minds of patriotic Nigerians is that an original aim of Radio Biafra, before its vision was sabotaged by Igbo politicians, was to uproot “all looters, embezzlers, kidnappers, sponsors of terrorism, child traffickers, corrupt judges, crooked university lecturers, murderous Nigerian security forces and all thieving individuals masquerading as public officials who steal public funds thereby preventing developmental projects from impacting positively on the lives of the ordinary people. Therefore, though physical assault must be strongly discouraged, the grievances against Ekweremadu are profoundly justified. You cannot beat a child and expect him not to cry at the same time”
On the still-born Sowore-led RevolutionNow Ogbonnia attributed it to “the jarring injustice in Nigeria. That is perfectly why #RevolutionNow enjoys support from broad sections of Nigerians, home and abroad, adding that the time has come for dialogue instead of seeing every critic or protest as coup d’etat. The latest attempt to label Nnamdi Kanu and Sowore as coup plotters is not only maddening malfeasance, the continued detention of Sowore is equally a brazen nonfeasance. President Buhari must rise beyond sheer dogmatism and admit that the state is truly falling apart. He ought to be able to discern that, unlike the case of IPOB where the Igbo leaders, have been dreadfully deceitful; the crème de la crème of the Yoruba intelligentsia is boldly behind Omoyele Sowore. Only a poon ignores the potential of the heavily funded but regional IPOB, with a worldwide membership, fusing with a broad-based national outfit like #RevolutionNow”.
Treason doth never prosper, what’s the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it Treason” – Sir John Harington.
One of the organizers of RevolutionNow, who is the General Secretary, United Action for Democracy and member of the Socialist Workers and Youth League, Mr. Kunle Ajayi, had vowed to go on with the mass action even after Sowore had been arrested.”They think they can stop an idea whose time has come. You have plenty to arrest. We will show you all that our generation cannot continue with your state madness. We will hand over a better world to our children. The time to act is now!!!” Ajayi said via his Twitter handle, @AjayiWizeman.
“This arrest is not surprising to us. We know that the Presidency has tried everything in their powers to discredit and dampen our struggle,” he said. “We believe that the #RevolutionNow will outlive all forces of repression, particularly the Buhari Presidency.We call on the Coalition for Revolution and other organizers to continue with the mobilization. A failed government cannot use force to make the mass of people to accept its failure.”
In his own reaction, former governor of Kaduna State and leader of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, condemned Sowore’s arrest and demanded his immediate arrest, saying that citizens had the constitutional right to protest. “Sowore’s action is not treasonable. You cannot arrest any Nigerian who is protesting against the maladministration of the Buhari government. The situation in the country is terrible. Nigerians have endured enough. There is a need to protest the poor governance by Buhari. So, we have the fundamental rights to embark on protest. And the revolution people are calling for in this country is not treasonable.”
Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, in his reaction said the assault by the Indegenious Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) on the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu was more like a ‘paradox of a conman’.
Answering questions by newsmen in Enugu, Mr Okechukwu said, “Whereas I join thousands of patriots in condemning the assault on my brother, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; however it seems more or less like the paradox of a conman.”
“A careful perusal of the comments from the viral video gazetted angry young men, many of who could have remained in Nigeria, if Senator Ekweremadu had prudently executed his constituency projects. For instance, where are the Youth Vocational Centers he presided over?”
“Some of the attackers maybe aware of the humongous properties Senator Ekweremadu is alleged to own both at home and abroad. Properties which case is still subsisting with anti-graft agencies. This is enough to incite any discernible group. The world is now a global village. Methinks they’re not happy about their forced exit from Nigeria.”
A former Commissioner in Delta State, Dr Chris Ekiyor, in his comment on the attack on Senator Ike Ekweremadu by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, in Germany, said the incident was a palpable indication that Nigerians in Diaspora were generally dissatisfied with government and politicians at home.
Speaking to reporters at Asaba, the state capital, Dr Ekiyor said: “Rather than berate the group, IPoB’s radical approach could be what public officers in the country needed to jolt their senses back to reality. The IPoB’s action on Ekweremadu, sad as it is, sends a strong signal to the world that the common citizens of Nigeria globally are tired of our domestic ‘demonstrations of craze’ (democrazy).”
“I therefore call on the International Community and their embassies to deny politicians travel visa for holidays and even medical care. That way, government will sit up and build our systems to be strong enough to have good hospitals, good schools and roads , and holiday spots like Tinapa , Yankari Game Reseeve , Obudu Cattle Ranch , Kainji Dam, Badagry Slave Trade Museum, National Museum and most national parks will spring back to life”.
“The National Assembly needs make a law banning this wasteful travels . We have all it takes to make Nigeria work and work great. All that is lacking is will power and commitment. Most politicians are in power to feather their nest, this is heart of the matter. I cannot help but agree that some measure of amnesia affects people in power.”
It is instructive that when Senator Ekweremadu first returned to Nigeria after his Germany experience, he appeared to justify the IPOB the reason for his fate in the hands of IPOB attack in his reported advice to his fellow political leaders thus: “Top Igbo Leaders should be very careful, more stones are awaiting us, there’s a pain, there’s anger, and there’s the collective rage in the heart of youths in the land”, he reportedly advised Nigerian leaders.
“Nigerians are empty of options and are seeking avenues for a purge; for catharsis. The season of retribution may be upon us soon or later than we’ve imagined. The physical abuse I had yesterday by some young abled men cannot be overemphasized; though condemnable, it betokens the onset of nemesis that will consume us if care is not taken”.
Whilst I was being lobotomized and assaulted, my abusers could be heard saying: “What have you done? People are dying. I managed to escaped yesterday, tomorrow, maybe the turn of top Igbo leaders, they should be very careful, they might not be as lucky as I’m”. Whether Ekweremadu held to this view later on or still holds this view is not known..
As if to justify the IPOB attack on Ekeremadu, the German police authorities, Landespolizie in Nuremberg, have reportedly dismissed the alleged attack on Ekweremadu, Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, on Saturday as “just a protest” according to a post by icirnigeria.org The police also reportedly said no arrest was made and didn’t have plans of making any future arrest concerning the incident because the police did not see any infringement on the rights of the Nigerian senator.
In the light of the foregoing, the more plausible deduction is that the two, perhaps three or more revolutions that never happened in the space of one month ago are ominous signals of an angry Nigerians and should be considered as such by both the government and the political class which are the major focus of this public angst that is likely to explode into a national socio-political conflagration that could consume Nigeria as a sovereign nation.
For those, the government in particular, who insist on calling these signals of anger criminal and treasonable or a mere storm in a tea pot, there can only be one reason or two for this. One is a reliance on the power of the gun to silence every voice of dissent. The other philosophical reason why some people define these signals as treason is encapsulated in the epic words of Sir John Harington: “Treason doth never prosper, what’s the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it Treason”. Just like a military or civilian coup is treason, but only when it fails. Otherwise, it becomes patriotism.
With Agency Reports
THE ECHO 