Ohanaeze blows hot over security siege on Ekweremmadu’s home, says Igbo won’t take it

The apex Igbo social-political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has
reacted to the security siege on the home of the Deputy Senate
President, Ike Ekweremmadu.

We had reported on Tuesday morning that officials of the Department of
State Security Services, (DSS), the Police as well as the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) laid siege on Ekweremadu's
residence in Abuja.

In a statement forwarded to DAILY POST by the President General of
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo on Tuesday, the group warned
that nothing should happen to the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike
Ekweremadu.

Ohanaeze said that the alarm has become necessary following some
disturbing reports that operatives of the State Security besieged his
house this morning for yet undisclosed motives.

The Organization said that while it would not begrudge the state for
doing its statutory duty, it must be within the confines of the rule
of law, more so that the nation is in a democracy.

"In a democratic setting as ours, we expect security agencies to be
civil and work within the rule of the law without breaching the civil
liberty of any individual.

Chief Nwodo said that Senator Ekweremadu being the highest Igbo man in
this government is much cherished by his people and is expected that
he should be accorded all the respect deserving of his position.

Ohanaeze recalled that another Igbo son, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe was
incarcerated for three days without any tangible reason.

"We will not want to be sentimental into believing that there are
grand design to silent and humiliate Igbo leaders at the national
level who are legitimately representing their people very well but
whose stance on issues is not agreeable with the ruling authorities,"
the organization said.

"It would do the nation's democracy no good if people's liberties are
continuously being curtailed by an intolerant system.

"Ndigbo will not take kindly to any action that is intended to harass,
intimidate or arrest Igbo leaders without following the due process of
the law.

"If the Deputy Senate President breached any law, he should be taken
to court and not to be put under house arrest. This certainly is a bad
omen for our country."