Organ harvesting: Buhari act like Obasanjo, seek clemency for Ekweremadus in UK
Dark days befell Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice when a Court in the United Kingdom found the duo guilty of Organ Harvesting in the United Kingdom.
The two-time Deputy Senate President of Nigeria’s Red Chamber and his wife would likely face ten years behind bars in the UK. The news touched Nigerians differently; some were indifferent, others showed rare empathy.
In whatsoever divide, a right-thinking person understands that Ike and Beatrice Ekweremadu are currently at the low moments of their lives trying to save the life of Sylvia Ekweremadu , their only offspring battling a rare kidney disease.
The family publicly begged for a kidney donor, a situation that has now added flame to their pain.
Following the guilty verdicts by Mr Justice Johnson, the Enugu State, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife were remanded in custody and await sentencing on May 5.
Months ago, the Ekweremadus were arrested and had been in the custody of UK authorities after they received complaints from the young man about their alleged plans to harvest his organ.
But, a fresh dimension emerged on April 3 when Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a letter, begged the UK government to have mercy on the Ekweremadus.
The letter read in part, “Mr Chief Clerk, I am very much aware of the current travails and conviction of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom resulting from their being charged with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year-old from Nigeria to the UK to harvest organs for their daughter.
“I do realise the implications of their action, and it is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilised society.
“However, it is my sincere desire for hot relations between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question, whose current health condition is in danger and requires urgent medical attention, you will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be generous enough to temper justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come to take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.
“I do hope Mr and Mrs Ekweremadu have learnt from their distressing experience to guide their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and continue to contribute fully to the good of society in particular and the nation in general.”
In this editorial, NewsDirect believes Obasanjo’s move is on point and calls on the federal government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, to follow suit.
Ikweremadu has done little if not enough for his Country to stand by him during his time of travails.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Godfrey Onyeama and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UK must all intervene in the call for clemency for the Ekweremadus.
Outgoing, returning and incoming members of the National Assembly must support the call for Ekweremadus amnesty on their convictions.
Indeed, Nigerians should not shy away from the call; however, one would look at Ike Ekweremadu his love for Nigerians has been loud.
It is time to give the Ekweremadus a helping hand.
