By Baron Ike
Four months after former Nigeria’s deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu was attacked in Germany, the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has also been attacked by Nigerians living in Spain.
Amaechi was on Friday attacked in Madrid, Spain, where he was attending a Climate Change meeting on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria.
Taking to his twitter handle, @ChibuikeAmaechi, the former governor of Rivers State, said the attackers were, however, fought-off by the Spanish police before they could do any harm.
Amaechi also tweeted that he was fine and thanked Nigerians for their prayers and support.
His words: “Some minutes ago, I was attacked by a few misguided Nigerians while on national assignment at a climate change event in Madrid, Spain. They were quickly repelled by the Spanish police before they could do any harm. I am fine. I was not hurt. Thanks for your support & prayers.”
In August this year, the immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Enweremadu was physically assaulted by some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in Nuremberg, Germany.
Enweremadu had confirmed the attack in a statement released by his Media Assistant, Uche Anichukwu in Abuja.
A 64-second video on the attack had gone viral on the social media earlier on Saturday, August 17, 2019.
In the video, Ekweremadu was seen being violently questioned over his alleged conspiracy with the Federal Government to proscribe the IPOB in the South East and killing several of its followers.
Ekweremadu was attacked with eggs by the irate IPOB members and was seen running for his dear life.
Like Amaechi, Ekweremadu also gave account of the event on his social twitter media handle, @iamekweremdu, where he said he was safe.
He also condemned the attack and said he had reported it to the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Mr Yusuf Tuggar.
His statement on the attack said: “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.
“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.
“Much as I am disappointed in their conduct, especially as I am one of the persons, who have spoken up on justice for Ndigbo, the Python Dance, judicial killings in Igbo land and elsewhere both on the floor of the Senate and in my written and personal engagements with the Presidency and the media as well as rallied the South East Senate Caucus to secure Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe taking him on bail to douse tension in the South East, I nevertheless do not hold this to heart against them, for they know not what they do.
“I have received thousands of solidarity calls and messages from well-meaning Ndigbo. I want to assure them that I am hail and hearty. I have also spoken with the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.”