The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) has condemned last Saturday’s attack on a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in Germany.
In a statement by the spokesperson of the group, Wilson Fidel O’Ne, on Monday, it said “the evidently physical attack on distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu is uncalled for and unacceptable.”
NIDOE also called for collaboration between event organisers in Diaspora and visiting government officials to foster cordial atmosphere for robust engagement.
“Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) condemns such an act in the strongest terms and wishes to emphasize that majority of Nigerians in Diaspora having lived so long in a democratic setting where there are rules and orders always takes advantage of debate, freedom of speech and expression, and peaceful protests to make its positions known where applicable and within the limits of the law.
“We appreciate that the German authorities came swiftly to calm the situation and so the event went on and the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Yusuf Tuggar, used the opportunity to effectively interact with Nigerians.
“It is unfortunate that Senator Ike Ekweremadu could no longer participate as invited.
“The second annual cultural festival and convention organised by Ndi-Igbo Germany is one of such platforms to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria and Ndi-Igbo in particular while providing opportunity for the Diaspora in general to interact with elected leaders and make its positions known on many national and Diaspora issues.
“NIDO Europe hereby calls on the organizers of the event who should have done everything possible to avoid such situation in the first place to take this for a serious lesson.
“As an organisation that is working toward National development, Nigerians in Diaspora Europe stands firm with the commitment of NIDCOM and all well-meaning Nigerians to present Nigerians in Diaspora in a better light and provide the needed platform for needed Diaspora robust engagement with the Federal Government of Nigeria and its various agencies.
“NIDO as an umbrella organization of all Nigerians in Diaspora being in a better position of situation analysis, wishes to reiterate the absolute importance of a better means of information exchange concerning invitations to Diaspora events and visiting government officials.
“This is important knowing the high level of democratic freedoms in our host countries and the applicable rules and regulations at communal levels,” the statement read.
