* Zakzaky: We are in worse prison in India, demands to be flown to Malaysia or Turkey for treatment
By Seun Adams
The federal government, yesterday in New Delhi, India tendered unreserved apologies to the Indian authorities for the unbecoming behaviour of Nigeria’s Shitte leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, flown there for medical treatment.
FG said his antics is running contrary to laid down agreement with the Medanta Hospital policy and against grain of international politics.
Deaconess Grace Isu Gekpe, who is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, in a statement, made available to the media on Wednesday, said because of his (El-Zakzaky) antics therefore, the Indian authorities have expressed willingness to return him to Nigeria with immediate effect as India would not tolerate the religious bigot to internationalize his group’s activities.
Gekpe said: “The government also wishes to use this opportunity to affirm it’s readiness to undertake his prosecution on return to Nigeria. On this note, his foul cry that he is being held in circumstances worse than in Nigeria should therefore be disregarded.”
However, speaking in a statement made through NAN as published in an online medium, Zakzaky, has vehemently opposed the treatment he is subjected to in India as amounting to another form of de-humananization and a prison situation worse than what he was subjected to in Nigeria.
He said: “Based on the fact that we were brought to another prison it is better they returned us back to Nigeria as India doesn’t appear to be a safe place for us. We would have to return home, after all there are other countries that offerred to receive us if we could go there.”
Zakzaky, demanded that they could convey to go to Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey which is his place of choice.
The Permanent Secretary, while explaining Nigeria’s position in the impase, said the Court on 5th August, granted Sheikh Ibraheem EL-Zakzaky leave to travel to India for medical treatment with federal government complying to the order.
In line with the Court Order, Gekpe, said El-Zakzaky was approved to embark on the trip with State officials and his choice to be accompanied by his aides and personal Doctors was not opposed by the government.
She said: “On 12th August, he and other members of the entourage went to India via Dubai. It is to be noted that El-Zakzaky particularly chose Medanta Hospital, India.
“On reaching Dubai, El-Zakzaky began to display ulterior motives against laid down procedures.
“He requested that his passport be handed over to him but the State officials would not budge to his pressure.”
The federal government, said the situation became worse in India as he refused to subject himself to preliminary medical checks, adding that he demanded free movement and access to visitors of all kinds as well as requested to be allowed to check into a 5-Star Hotel instead of being admitted in the hospital.
This according to Gekpe, was refused based on the ground that he came into the country for medicals and not as a tourist.
Zakzaky, according to the Perm Sec, the IMN leader also demanded that Police protection be withdrawn from him by the Indian authorities.
“Against medical ethics and standard practice, he requested to nominate Doctors of his choice to join the ones tasked by Medanta Hospital to perform medical treatment on him and his wife.
“This created a stalemate, which the Hospital insisted that he would not dictate to it on the choice of medical personnel to carry the required medical treatment.
“Frustrated by his antics, the Indian authorities have expressed willingness to return him to Nigeria with immediate effect.” She said.