Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu on Tuesday shrugged off his ongoing trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged forgery of the Standing Rules of the Senate, insisting that his traducers would meet a brick wall as nobody would remove him from office.
Ekweremadu spoke as over 30 traditional rulers from his Enugu West senatorial zone presented him with the traditional ofor, a symbol of authority, standing in unison with him in his trial. They vowed that no matter the efforts of those seeking for his “downfall”, he would emerge stronger from his travails.
Ekweremadu spoke at his Ikeoha Foundation Adult Literacy Day and 2015 /2016 Scholarship and Bursary award ceremony, his pet project, at Ezeagu Council Headquarters, Aguobu-Owa where over N40 million was spent on scholarships and bursary to over 400 indigent undergraduates and 250 sewing and grinding machines presented to widows. He noted that his trajectory was from God and as such he would survive the sea billows.
“I decided to handover N400,000 to each of the 20 students as scholarships for their education for four years. Ordinarily, it would have been N100,000 each year but since am not sure if I will continue as Deputy Senate President until tomorrow, we have decided to give it out at once to ensure that nothing happens to the education of these young ones.
“Whether they succeed in chasing me out or not, you will continue to go to school. But, I have to assure you that nobody will remove me. It is not by power or by might but by the Grace of God. Our trajectory is from God. Nobody will do us anything. No matter what is happening, I can assure you that we shall survive them all,” he said.
The lawmaker disclosed that the charity works were his own way of appreciating God for his kindness to his family over the years, adding that his present travails would not constitute a setback in the charity works. He praised the Enugu state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his achievements especially the prompt payment of the monthly salaries of workers in the state.
In his speech, Governor Ugwuanyi said the event marked a milestone in the promotion of literacy in the state, adding that it was a welcome complement to the efforts of the state government in improving education.
’s why we have continued to channel resources to that sector,” he said, while urging other well-to-do individuals to follow in the footsteps of the senator.
Earlier, the traditional rulers led by their chairman, Igwe Hafford Agana had pledged their support for the senator, noting “all the traditional rulers are with you. We are presenting you with the Offor which means there is nothing anybody can do against you.”
