Ahead of today’s sentencing of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice for organ harvesting, prominent Nigerians and Africans have continued to appeal to the United Kingdom court for clemency.
In a last-minute plea, members of the Ikeoha Mpu Pacesetters League (IMPL) joined their voices in calling on the UK Court to show clemency to their mentor, and brother by releasing him and his wife unconditionally.
The people of the Mpu community also held a prayer vigil till the morning of Thursday to pray for divine intervention, stressing that the long absence of the lawmaker, who they said transformed Aninri Local Government Area and gave a new lease of life to thousands, was already affecting them.
At a press conference, IMPL, an assembly of individuals numbering over 500, who were empowered by Ekweremadu through sponsorship of their education and securing of jobs in different spheres of life, said the Senator was a big tree and his fall would spell doom for thousands.
The President General of the Association, Chijioke Benjamin Ezekwe said that the conviction of Ekweremadu and his wife based on certain mistakes made in trying to save their ailing daughter did not in any way represent their true character.
Ezekwe, who was among the thousands of people that benefited from the Ikeoha Foundation Education Scheme of the Senator, said his contributions to humanity and the development of Africa at large should be considered by the UK government.
The IMPL President said that the calls for mercy on the Ekweremadus, which are coming from every quarter of Africa and the globe, were enough testimonies that Ike Ekweremadu remains a role model for generations to come.
He said: “It is rather ironical to believe that the same man that had denied himself comfort to train many indigent persons both in his community and beyond, built roads and schools, created employment opportunities, sponsored so many life-changing bills at the National Assembly and served African Continent meritoriously as Deputy Speaker and Speaker of the Parliament of ECOWAS, including other global assignments intentionally committed such a crime. But since they have been pronounced guilty, all we are pleading is for mercy”.
Meanwhile, it was like a crusade at the Community Primary School, Amagu Mpu playground as both the old, young, and widows defied the rain to gather and cry to God to deliver their son, whom they described as the backbone of the community and a philanthropist.
Even with the court pronouncing the Ekweremadus guilty, the faith of the people of Mpu community and Aninri remained strong and their belief unchanged that God would intervene on their behalf.
Leading the prayer, the pastor in charge of Ancient Path Revival Assembly Mpu, Nathaniel Nwankwo said that the community had not relented in praying and crying to God for help, mercy, and intervention, knowing that sentencing is around the corner.
“No human being is above mistake, but since they have pronounced Ikeoha and our caring mother guilty, we pray that God who showed mercy to Hezekiah; who showed mercy to the woman that committed adultery in John chapter 8 verses 1:11; will also see reasons to touch the heart of the British authorities to show mercy to the Ekweremadus.
“Our prayer is that God should turn our tears into a manifestation of joy and Senator Ekweremadu and his wife will be freed irrespective of the offence”.
