Author: philip
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has penned a correspondence to the Chief Clerk of the Central Criminal Court in London, urging a merciful approach to the sentencing of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his spouse.
The couple, along with a Nigerian medical practitioner, Obinna Obeta, were recently convicted of attempting to harvest organs from a trafficked Nigerian, who was brought to the UK to donate a kidney for their daughter’s treatment
Obasanjo Appeals for Mercy for Ike Ekweremadu, Citing His Past Contributions to Nigeria’s Socio-Political Development
In a letter dated April 3 and addressed to The Chief Clerk, the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo called for leniency in the case of Senator Ike Ekweremadu. While condemning Ekweremadu’s actions, Obasanjo highlighted the Senator’s past contributions to Nigeria’s socio-political development and urged that his punishment be considered in light of his good deeds and the plight of his ailing daughter.
Obasanjo also spoke fondly of his long-standing relationship with Ekweremadu, which began over two decades ago and has spanned both private legal practice and public administration
During my tenure as the democratically-elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, Ike Ekweremadu and I maintained a close relationship and had frequent interactions as loyal members of our political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Furthermore, after his election to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2003, he has continued to remain a member of the Senate to this day.
Throughout his time serving in the Nigerian Parliament, he has held various leadership positions, including Deputy Senate President and chairman of numerous committees, where he has utilized his extensive experience in legal practice and public administration. In 2009, he was appointed as the First Deputy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and led a special committee to help restore constitutional order in the Niger Republic, showcasing his invaluable leadership skills.
A Tribute to a Selfless Leader: How He Helped Secure My Presidential Ticket
During the competitive race for the Presidential ticket of our party in early 1999, I vividly recall how he, alongside other respected Nigerians from the South-East, put aside extraneous factors to ensure that the South-East region unanimously adopted me for the Presidency. This was done without regard for the fact that my closest competitor hailed from their part of the country. I hold in high esteem his impartial, moderate, and pan-Nigerian approach to national issues and progress, especially in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious geo-political landscape like ours.
He is a dedicated servant of both God and humanity, consistently playing a visible role in the advancement of our nation. Through the Ikeoha Foundation, his non-governmental organization, he continues to contribute to national development
In 1997, the founder and his wife established a charitable organization that has since made significant contributions to improving the lives of impoverished individuals. Their efforts have focused on increasing access to quality education and healthcare, as well as promoting participation in mainstream social, political, and economic activities within their respective communities.
