Former Governor Of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has cancelled his trip to Spain after members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) beat up the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Saturday, in Germany.
KanyiDaily had reported that Ike Ekweremadu was beaten up and publicly humiliated by suspected IPOB members in Nuremberg, Germany where he had attended the New Yam Festival of Igbo Community over the weekend.
The videos of the attack, posted by some members of the pro-biafra group who allegedly carried out the attack, have since gone viral.
In a statement on Monday, Orji Uzor Kalu admitted that he cancelled his trip to Spain after being invited by an Igbo group for a function. The lawmaker, however, said his decision to ditch the trip was not to avoid assault from members of IPOB.
Kalu explained that he has been in his country home, Igbere, Abia State, interacting with members of his constituency since the National Assembly went on recess, and had held several meetings with the people of Abia North at his residence in Igbere. He said:
“The news that I suspended my planned medical trip abroad is not true. I was invited by an Igbo group in Spain to attend their function, I could not go because of the interaction with my constituents.
“I have been in my country home interacting with people from my constituency and settling disputes.”
Mr Kalu described the action of the IPOB members on Ekweremadu as uncivilized, unacceptable and barbaric. He urged Igbo people to respect their leaders at all levels.
He noted that the only way the South-East zone can be prosperous was by embracing dialogue, peace and unity.
Mr Kalu also urged the Embassy of Nigeria in Germany, the German Government and appropriate authorities to bring the perpetrators of the ugly incident to book.