NIGERIA – Soludo passing through the eye of the needle

According to Soludo, the sit-at-home declared by IPOB was in protest against the alleged maltreatment of Kanu, who is being detained and prosecuted by the government.

The governor, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, said Kanu is a factor that nobody can deny.

He said, “Let me be clear: you can like it or not like it, you may want to hear it or not. I’m not a regular politician who speaks from both sides of the mouth, I say it as it is. My understanding of the situation in the South East is that every major organised group needs to be part of the conversation.

“Why did we start the sit-at-home that the children of the South-East have to go to school four days in a week instead of five? How did we start sit-at-home that the woman selling pepper out there; those who depend on daily toil and sweat to earn a living can no longer do that on Monday? Business are closing and so on and so forth.

“It is because of Nnamdi Kanu. No matter how you want to wish it away, it is essentially because of Nnamdi Kanu. So, he is a factor; no one can deny that. He is a factor, for anyone who wants to be realistic. Therefore, in a conversation about peace and stability in the South-East, if you discountenance that factor and wish it away, then the person must be living in the moon. It has become a factor. And, therefore, as part of that process of getting down to the fundamental long-term discussion on this matter, we need to get that matter over with.

The governor equally noted that Kanu’s supporters have insisted that they will continue with the sit-at-home until their leader is released.

“What started the sit-at-home was because Nnamdi Kanu was arrested. And what were his supporters saying? They were saying that they would keep this Monday sit-at-home until he is released. We are only arguing and having a counter narrative to say it does not make sense to now (say because) someone annoys you somewhere else and you then go and lock up your entire family and say they should not eat, they should starve to death, children shouldn’t go to school. I think they have bought that argument,” he explained.

“To achieve lasting peace,” the governor said “every organisation in the region must be brought to the table for dialogue”.

Soludo noted that a faction of IPOB had agreed to suspend the sit-at-home and work with his administration, while another faction has been responsible for the continued attacks in Anambra and other parts of the South-East.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria called for speedy trial of Kanu, asking that the government should make public details of the charges against the IPOB leader. “Press the charges and he will be defended. This is Nigeria, (there is) rule of law. The court will take their course expeditiously and let us see where it gets to,” he said.

The governor called for a timely closure on the case against Kanu, stating that, “The longer that it lingers without bringing closure to it, the longer you keep the system in suspense.”

Soludo also called for fair trial of the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. While faulting a leaked video of the ex-governor in detention, Soludo stated that his predecessor remains innocent until proven guilty and pronounced so by a court.

Speaking on security vote spending, one of which Obiano is being investigated, Soludo said, “I do know that Anambra was reputed to be the safest state in Nigeria, probably it didn’t come cheap. But, again, he deserves his day, to be treated innocent until proven guilty.”

It would be recalled that Prof Soludo on Saturday had granted amnesty to all criminal elements threatening peace and progress across the state to lay down their arms and embrace peace for progress and development of all segments of the state, noting that the state and indeed Nigeria are facing precarious situation which needs all hands to be on deck.

Soludo warned that if after Monday this week all those behind the worrisome state of insecurity that has led to killings of innocent lives and wanton destruction of properties, fail to drop their arms and embrace peace as well as the amnesty extended to them, they should not blame anybody for the actions to be meted to them at the end.

The Governor spoke at the emergency one day Peace Building and Dialogue meeting held with traditional rulers, clergies, market women, traders, town union leaders, youth groups and other critical stakeholders drawn from across the three Senatorial districts and 21 local government areas of the state, which was held in Awka the state capital.

He declared that the weekly Monday sit-at-home which has continued to inflict pains and losses on the economy and lives of people of the state and other states in the Southeast zone is now a thing of the past, stressing that the leadership of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) had reiterated its stand to call quits the weekly directive.

He promised to work collaboratively with governors of the zone towards ensuring that Nnamdi Kanu receives expected justice as a true citizen of the country even in the face of not having any strong evidence against him.

The governor also pronounced the establishment of Peace and Reconciliation Commission to be inaugurated next week, the reorganization of community vigilante groups and and launch of Security Trust Fund to ensure adequate security across the nooks and crannies of the state while jobs would be created for repentant criminals and youths in order to engage them meaningfully.

“Anambra will be better again this is time and hour; you employed me and I will do my best to serve you but you should not leave it for me alone.”

“Criminal elements now, lay down your arms and embrace peace but if you keep adamant we will treat you like a criminal. Come out wherever you are, we don’t want to kill anybody. Those who go by the gun and same apply to those who go by the cutlass. It is time to engage the good, the bad and ugly,” Soludo said.

This is as Igbo apex socio-cultiral organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, blasted governors of the five states in the Southeast geo political zone for their failure to take firm decisions and actions on the worsening state of insecurity in the region and the fate of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently being incarcerated and facing trial over alleged terrorism, treasonable felony and other charges.

The Vice chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide (Southeast zone) Chief Damian Ogene Okeke said the failure of leadership by the Nigerian state and those of governors of the Southeast zone were responsible for the threatening insecurity and decades of marginalization of Ndigbo.

Chief Okeke flayed the situation where the governors have reduced themselves to praise singers and clappers within the corridors of power in Abuja while their people are marginalized and in all ramifications and lives threatened as well as waste lives under the guise of leadership. According to Ohanaeze Vice President “too much praise singing and leadership failure have been our major challenge. The federal government has so much marginalized Ndigbo and the failure of Southeast governors to take proactive steps to address the challenge of insecurity has kept is where we are today and f the Southeast governors are in unity all these problems in the Southeast will be solved.”

Chairman of the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty Igwe Alfred Achebe in a communique jointly signed on behalf of all the traditional rulers, the clergies and state government at the end of a crucial meeting held recently in the state and read to the gathering.

He declared Monday, April 4th 2022 as a day of prayer for entire Igbo race, a spiritual exercise that would take place in all Cathedrals, churches and other prayer houses by 11 am across the entire Ndigbo land.

The monarchs, religious leaders and state government urged all those injured and the Aggrieved to come forward and cooperate with the truth and reconciliation commission for conduct of inquiry into remote and immediate causes of the agitations, documentations and examination of the circumstances surrounding the killings in the Southeast.

The body called for constructive and continuous dialogue by all parties as a more sustainable solution to overcoming the challenge and win the hearts and minds of the people.

The joint body recognized that there is country wide agitations for restructuring of inter ethnic and inter governmental relations in Nigeria with a view to greater inclusiveness.

“We therefore share the genuine concern over the political and economic marginalization of the Southeast geo political zone of Nigeria, major plank of the agitation by the IPOB.”

The meeting called for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the federal government in order to douse the current tensions across the Southeast and create an atmosphere for collaboration towards a constructive resolution of the issues.

“We call on all criminal elements masquerading as working under the instruction of IPOB or ESN to cease and desist from further acts of violence and criminality of face the implacable force of law and order.”

The joint group also called on those who took arms in the believe that their grievances could be achieved only through arms struggles to lay down their arms. According to the communique the government and good people of Anambra State hereby offer the olive branch for you all to return and hereby undertake to train, rehabilitate and empower you to contribute to our Homeland development. The centers where you youths can register for help will be announced shortly.

Additionally, after attending the Monday prayer as earlier scheduled, the governor said, “we have prayed to God, admonished our people and made commitment to ensuring that everyone concerned gets expeditious justice. Following the unanimous agreement of our leaders across board, and the endorsement of the entire body of Christ, I am pleased to inform our people that today, Monday April 4, 2022 marks the official end to the “Monday sit-at-home” in Anambra State. Shortly, I will be announcing the membership of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee that will look into addressing all areas of sincere challenge, including interfacing with the Federal Government on behalf of all Prisoners of conscience. I have also offered Amnesty to all our brothers in the various forests around us. Give us your guns, and trust us to help you forge a meaningful living.

“The task of taking back our dear State and reclaiming the dignity of our collective existence is at the heart of our drive towards a Liveable and Prosperous Homeland. This task is a MUST. I call for your support and prayers, as we have resolved to fiercely go after criminal elements who are out to threaten our peace and distort our development. Anambra is the Light of the Nation, we must keep it so.”