Igbo leaders and stakeholders missed the opportunity to address the issue of Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s continued imprisonment during President Bola Tinubu’s town hall meeting in Enugu over the weekend, despite growing concerns in the Southeast.
DAILY GAZETTE correspondent gathered that the meeting, which many had hoped would serve as a platform to plead with President Tinubu to liaise with the UK government in a bid to secure Ekweremadu’s release, saw no mention of the former deputy senate president’s case.
This omission left many disappointed, as they had hoped the event would offer an avenue to advocate for his freedom.
Ekweremadu, who has been imprisoned in the UK for his involvement in organ trafficking, has become a prominent issue among Igbo leaders, who view his release as essential for addressing the region’s grievances.
Despite calls from several Igbo leaders for his release, the topic was notably absent from the discussions at the town hall.
The town hall was part of Tinubu’s one-day working visit to Enugu, during which he inaugurated several projects completed by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration.
While key topics like security, infrastructure, and economic development were discussed, the issue of Ekweremadu’s detention went unaddressed, surprising many in the Southeast.
Prominent figures at the meeting included Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kanu, and traditional rulers like the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe.
DAILY GAZETTE reports that none of them brought up the matter of Ekweremadu’s imprisonment, leaving it off the agenda despite the region’s ongoing concerns.
