Ekweremadu’s Many Troubles
ThisisnotthebestoftimesforformerPresidentof theSenate,SenatorIkeEkweremadu,whoiscurrently waginghistoughestlegalbattleintheUnitedKingdom to avert a sudden fall from grace to grass.
ManyhadwantedtheSenatorrepresentingEnugu WestsenatorialdistricttoemulatetheformerSenate President,SenatorDavidMark,whobowedouthonour- ably when the ovation was loudest but he continued to push his political luck too far.
First,hesuccessfullygambledandretainedhisposi- tionastheDeputySenatePresidentontheplatform oftheoppositionPeoplesDemocraticParty(PDP)in 2015.Second,hisvictoryin2015intoxicatedhimthat here-contestedforthepositionin2019withouttaking his party into confidence and lost woefully to Sena- tor Ovie Omo-Agege of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC).
Third,hisinordinateambitionpushedhimtoaspire tobethegovernorofEnuguStatewhenheknewthat by the zoning arrangement in the state, that it would betheturnofEnuguEastsenatorialzonetoproduce thegovernorin2023.Ekweremaduknewthatbefore it would be the turn of his Enugu West in 2031, he probably would no longer be relevant in the politics of the state. So, he ignored all pleas by the political leaders and elders in the state, who prevailed on him not to truncate the zoning arrangement for the sake of peace, justice and equity.
ItwasnotuntilafewhourstothePDPgovernorship electionwhenherealisedthathestoodnochancethathe withdrewfromtheelectionandthreatenedtocontinue court action. But having realised later that court actionwouldnothelphimtorealisehisgubernatorial ambition,Ekweremadulaterformallywithdrewand congratulated the winner, Mr. Peter Mbah.
Asiflosinghisgovernorshipbidwasnotenough, Ekweremaduandhiswife,Beatrice,werearrested andclampedintodetentionintheUnitedKingdom following an allegation of attempting to harvest organs.
The UK Metropolitan Police charged them with conspiracytofacilitatethetravelofanotherperson fororganharvestingintheUK.TheywereonThursday deniedbailbyanUxbridgeMagistrates’Courtand would remain in custody until July 17.
Ekweremadu will need the best lawyers in the UKtoavertconvictionthatwilldestroyhispolitical career permanently.