Elijah Odeh: Young Benue barber arrested in Kano for ‘unislamic’ haircuts storms National Assembly, thanks Senator Abba Moro

Distinguished Senator Abba Patrick Moro, on Thursday, received Elijah Odeh in his office at the National Assembly.

IDOMA VOICE recalls that Moro had facilitated the freedom of the young man after he was detained for giving his customers haircuts believed to be against Islam.

The visit, which was at the instance of the Senator, was to afford him the opportunity to hear, directly, from the young man what led to his arrest and incarceration for two weeks, and also to sympathize with him over his ordeal.

Elijah and his team left Kano very early in the morning, with the expectation that they would get to the National Assembly by 2pm, to be able to meet with the Senator before leaving for an official assignment outside Abuja. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get to NASS until after 4pm, after the Senator had patiently waited for about 2 hours and had to leave, to catch up with the official assignment.

The 3-man delegation, comprising of Elijah himself, Ukenya Sunday and Smith Akoko, who came in from Benue, arrived the office of the Senator at exactly 4:30pm, into the waiting and happy arms of the Senator’s aides led by his New Media Aide, Emmanuel John Eche-Ofun.

In a statement, Eche-Ofun said, “In my speech, on behalf of the Senator, I warmly welcomed Elijah and his team to the office of the Senator, which, by extension, is also their office. I sympathized with him over what he went through in the hands of his accusers, and congratulated him for his freedom. I informed him that the Senator waited for so long to personally receive him but had to leave for an official assignment, as time was no longer on his side.

“I told him that Senator Moro took his case personal because he, the Senator, felt there was no crime or wrongdoing in what they accused him of.

“I assured him of the Senator’s resolve never to abandon him or any of his Constituents who is harassed unjustly anywhere in the country, as long as he remains their Senator, that he would always be there for his people at all times.

“Responding, Elijah said he was overwhelmed by the show of love for him by Senator Moro and all the people who stood up for him. He said it was only God who would reward them.

“On his arrest and detention, he said he did nothing wrong. He stated that the hairstyle he designed on his customers’ heads was only a Versace design, that it wasn’t anything to anger anybody or group of persons. He said he felt really bad but now happy because of the love shown to him by people he least expected.

“In his own remarks, Smith Akoko, the reporter who was reporting the incident on social media, said Senator Moro had written his name in gold and in the hearts of people, especially the Igede people. He said he lacked words to describe the Senator.

“In his words, “Senator Moro has proven to be a man who knows what leadership is all about. His prompt response to issues that affect his people is second to none. Al’Igedes are indebted to him for his untiring show of love and care for us, and we won’t forget that. We appreciate him for the roles he played in the release of Elijah, and for inviting us to his office immediately.

“We are sorry for keeping him waiting for so long, it’s the nature of our roads and the slow traffic in the city centre. Please, extend our profound appreciation to him. We are most grateful.”