Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State believes dialogue can go a long way in tackling agitations in the southeast region.
Soludo made the comment on Sunday, explaining that brute force alone cannot douse agitations in the region.
“A time comes when you realise that you cannot shoot an ideology with a gun. When you see it exclusively as a law enforcement matter, then you miss the point,” the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“We got to engage them; we got to engage everyone to really understand the root of this.”
According to him, his government is setting up a truth and reconciliation commission as part of measures to tackle the rising levels of agitations in the region.
This commission, he said, will look into the root causes of the agitations and document those killed in the past few years due to the tensions in the area.
“We don’t want to treat all these people as statistics,” the governor said, expressing optimism that such action could “form the fulcrum of engagement at the national level”.
“To the criminals, we are offering an olive branch to repent,” Soludo reiterated, referencing John 8:1-11 in the Holy Bible.
“So, to them, we are also saying ‘We are not condemning you, sin no more. Come out today, surrender those arms, we want to engage you back in society’,” the economist noted.
He lamented the rising levels of insecurity in the country, calling for immediate action and “engagement” with a view to finding a lasting solution.
The governor said the threats are “existential” in nature and thus should not be papered over. Everyone, he believes, should help the government in proffering solutions to the challenges facing the nation.
“This is something that we need to engage very seriously and in an open manner to engage everyone, believing that everyone has something to contribute,” he said.
Anambra Holds prayer sessions as ordered by Soludo to annul the sit at home
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State has directed the people of the state to observe a one-day prayer to counter the “evil” effect of the Monday sit-at-home order.
The governor, who gave the order on Saturday, said the prayer session will work against the activities of the gunmen terrorising the state and the South-East region.
The prayer session would hold on Monday, April 4, 2022, in churches and other religious worship centres across the state.
He spoke at a stakeholders’ peace meeting with security chiefs, traditional rulers and religious leaders, in Awka.
He said, “I enjoin you to pause and join in fellowship as we seek the face of God. It is expected that the conclusion of the prayer session shall mark the end of Sit- At-Home in Anambra State.”
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on July 30, 2021, ordered a sit-at-home in the region.
It threatened to shut down economic activities in the region, adding that violators of the order would be visited with violence.
On August 9, IPOB started the enforcement of the lockdown.
The sit-at-home order is to protest against the arrest and detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
However, after a while it scrapped the directive in the South-East region, saying the development is to embrace peaceful negotiations.
Despite the suspension, the majority of South-East residents still observe the order, shunning business and commercial activities.
The development had since crippled the economy in the region as banks, shops and other organisations remained shut on Mondays over the fear of attack.
Last week, Soludo ordered all public servants in Anambra State to always report to work on Mondays, like every other weekday.
It was observed that some of the workers complied with the governor’s directive though the level of compliance is still relatively low.
A source in Anambra identified as Sunday said only a few public servants resumed at the state secretariat, Awka.
Sunday said he observed that some offices were opened in the state secretariat but the principal officers were not on seats.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Soludo asked the Nigerian government to handle the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) with speed or release him from detention.
Speaking during a one-day Peacebuilding and Security Dialogue held in Awka on Saturday, Soludo said an expeditious release of Kanu would cushion the insecurity impasse in the South-East.
The governor pointed out that justice delayed is justice denied.
A few days ago, during his swearing in ceremony as governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo made a compelling argument for the Monday sit-at-home to be halted, while promising to lead the negotiations with the Federal Government to see the possibility of releasing your detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
As part of his arguments for proposing the stoppage of the counterproductive and aimless sit-at-home, the governor rephrased what has always been my argument against this sit-at-home order when he said; “You cannot protest against marginalization by marginalizing yourself.”
As expected, our brother, the self acclaimed Nnamdi Kanu apostle, Simon Ekpa immediately responded to Governor Soludo’s well thought out appeal by threatening to burn down Anambra, and in his words; “Imo will be a child’s play to Anambra”. Nothing else could have confirmed Ekpa’s involvement in the killings, arson and terrorist activities that have bedevilled the Southeast, including Imo State. And true to his threats, just a few days later, there were terrorist attacks on some government targets in Anambra.
I do not forget that just few weeks after declaring the sit-at-home on Mondays, the authentic IPOB leadership hearkened to wise counsel by announcing its cancellation. However, the disparate criminals hiding under the cover of Eastern Security Network and Biafran restoration agitation continued to terrorize innocent Southeast residents in a bid to criminally enforce the so-called ghost Mondays.
Across the Southeast, we no longer have ways of distinguishing between criminals kidnapping innocent people, armed robbers, ritualists, and other shades of bandits from those fighting against the injustice of the Nigerian State against the Igbo. Every criminal is now an ESN member and every terrorist act perpetrated by any group is quickly blamed on the ESN by our lousy and unimaginative security agents.
I had previously raised an alarm that some ISIS terrorists might have infiltrated the ranks of the genuine agitators and are focused on destroying Ala Igbo and reversing our self gotten development and economic prosperity. I had also warned in the past that some non-Igbo politicians, in cahoots with their Igbo collaborators, might be sponsoring criminal elements to destroy Ala Igbo and weaken any argument for the Igbo presidency project in 2023. I also buy the logic that some disgruntled politicians in the Southeast might have armed their thugs and followers to destabilize the Southeast or certain States in the Southeast in order to get at their political opponents.
Today, a politician could easily send his thugs to kidnap or kill his political opponent, and ESN will be blamed, a family dispute over lands could lead to one side of the family sending assassins after their rivals, and ESN will be blamed. Even some rogue police officers and other security agents could carry out a false flag operation in a bid to further demonize the justified agitation for equity, political and economic inclusion of the Igbos and justice for our people, and ESN would easily become the suspects.
When Mazi Nnamdi Kanu announced the setting up of ESN, as a militia group, he did tell us that it was for the protection of Igbo farmers and residents from the invading Fulani herdsmen. While it must be stated that he didn’t have any powers to set up an armed group, the setting up of ESN would have remained tolerable, if the group had stuck to the stated mission of stopping invading Fulani herdsmen.
While it must be conceded that many Igbos, especially, the elite have been frightened into pretending that the ESN is welcomed, the truth of the matter is that no true Igbo would support an armed gang that destroys the economy of our people, kill innocent Igbos and are gradually reversing our educational achievements.
The killings, arson and other mindless criminality that are now constantly associated with the ESN and IPOB might not have been, if the ESN had remained under the strict control and command of the IPOB. However, Simon Ekpa who was known as a staunch Nnamdi Kanu apostle has constantly defied the orders of the IPOB leadership and has unarguably hijacked the ESN. There is no doubt that the violent guys no longer listen to either Emma Powerful or Chika Edozie.
To shorten the length of this epistle, let me tell you dear brothers and sisters, that IPOB has lost total grips on the Eastern Security Network and there is absolutely no good coming out of the group or the various criminals operating under the cover of ESN.
Besides earlier outlined disadvantages of retaining the ESN, the continued existence of this armed group with the purported imprimatur of the IPOB will continue to give the Nigerian security agencies excuses to kill our young people, set our houses ablaze, extort our traders, rape our sisters, wives and daughters, and arbitrarily clamp our youths in detention. The little sympathy we could have enjoyed from the international community and aid organizations will be completely lost, because no country or international organization would want to associate with any struggle or agitation that is propelled by violence or terrorist acts.
Some of you might see it as concession of defeat, but, the only strategic thing to do at this moment is to declare a ceasefire and call on all genuine ESN operatives to lay down their arms. This will give the Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership and other Igbo leaders who have been fighting for a political solution to the Nnamdi Kanu matter a stronger impetus to convince the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu.
We might want to deceive ourselves, but the truth of the matter is that the Federal Government loses absolutely nothing with the carnage these criminal elements are visiting on the Southeast, and they might as well choose to fold their hands and watch us kill off ourselves and reduce our investments to rubbles.
And no matter what anyone wants to make you believe, the truth of the matter is that we do not stand the smallest chance in defeating the Federal Government if we continue to go the violent way. These armed groups can only succeed, like they have been doing, in attacking less fortified infrastructures and private buildings, killing innocent and less guarded Igbos and very few elites. A simple analysis of the victims of the ESN linked attacks in the last one year or so, will tell you that 97% of their victims are Igbos, and 90% of these Igbos are innocent men and women who have nothing to do with the Federal Government.
It is time for you to ask yourselves salient questions: What are we really fighting over? Are we fighting for our freedom or are we fighting to enslave ourselves? How could you want to free a people by enslaving them with fear, by killing them, by destroying their means of livelihood?
My dear Comrades, there wouldn’t be a better way to save an already bad situation than disbanding the ESN. When you do, the genuine Igbo patriots who joined ESN for the protection of Ala Igbo will go underground and even help to fish out and deal with the fifth columnists and agents of destabilization.
I expect backlashes, insults and, as usual, attempts on my life, but I am encouraged by the fact that I meant no harm and that overtime, more and more of our people are realizing the mistake that is the violent turn in this struggle. I know, that a greater number of genuine IPOB members agree with my proposal, but might not openly support it, for fear or out of pride.
In all, I leave everything to posterity and I know that in due course its judgement shall favour the just.
Thank you.
I am your Comrade in the fight for Igbo emancipation,
Onwuasoanya FCC Jones.
Sometimes in 2017 ,Chinedu Asuzu and myself journeyed to Abuja to meet with Nnamdi KANU at the instance of Late Dr Dozie Ikedife. Before then ,we have differed on the methodology to secure economic ,political and cultural freedom for our dear people living in Nigeria with Nnamdi KANU.
After the meeting in Kuje with Nnamdi KANU ,Kalada,an Ijawman and others ,we agreed that political methodology was the best option towards the pursuit for the liberation of our people from Nigeria and we adopted UPP as our political platform. Sadly ,on our way back to the east ,we got a SMS from Nnamdi KANU that IPOB would continue with Civil Disobedience as a methodology to achieve Biafra freedom. We were disappointed with his sudden change of mind . We were convinced that considering the peculiar situation in Nigeria ,civil disobedience would only make us outsiders in power game since independence struggle in 21st century is a political process.
However, our political group- MOBIN was sabotaged by fellow comrades and the rest is history .
This short note is to remind us of the event of the recent past in case if we have forgotten. This will assist us to make informed decisions.
While in Kuje , Nnamdi KANU confessed to us that he has tried to sustain the struggle ,thus far and that we should explore other avenues to ensure that the future of our people were secured. We promised to sustain the momentum using our approach which was in line with the rule of law of the land . Thereafter ,many fanatical followers of Nnamdi KANU IPOB who had never met Nnamdi KANU in person told us during a unity meeting summoned by Late Dr Ikedife at Nnewi that KANU must come out from Kuje before they could do anything. Few months later ,KANU was released and he came to see Late Dr Ikedife at his Nnewi hospital . I was there . Again ,we reminded him that IPOB no election mantra in 2017 has nothing to do with Biafra struggle. Outside the meeting room while addressing the media ,KANU insisted that IPOB would not allow Anambra election to hold . I was at the spot of the press briefing and alas our group was utterly disappointed leading to our cancelling further engagement with Nnamdi KANU and his IPOB . Note that we were operating Customary Government of IPOB under the Chairmanship of Late HRM Eze Ozobu ,former Chief Judge and first Ohanaeze President and Late Dr Dozie Ikedife as Deputy Chairman , Late Col Joe Achuzia as the Secretary. These were men Nigeria government held in highest esteem . The event of 2017 is repeating itself in 2022 because we failed to address the root cause of the agitations.
One month after our meeting with Nnamdi KANU at Nnewi ,he continued talking tough until Operation python dance struck and rest is history.
The lesson to be learnt from the past event : The political elites were watching from the sideline. They refused to join the debate then. They preferred to meet the agitators in the night with loads of money . South east Governors were not interested in Good Governance and public accountability. They were not interested in providing visionary Leadership. They were not interested in connecting with the ordinary people. They surrounded themselves with praise singers! They , most unfortunately, disconnected themselves from the ordinary people and created an opportunity for Non State Actors to fill the widening gaps in the society. These political leaders missed the opportunity provided by the likes of Late Dozie Ikedife to kick- start open debate on the best way to approach the Nigeria dilemma . That mindless negligent is the price we are paying today.
Now that we have a Governor who wants to do the right thing, I am afraid that his actions may be misunderstood. The proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission should be headed by somebody in the class of Late Dozie Ikedife ,Late Justice Oputa ,Prof Uzodinma Nwala etc to bring the right people together to proffer permanent solution . The present situation cannot be resolved by the use of force. No force can stop an ideological battle whether anybody tags it criminal or terrorist activities. The root cause of agitations must be considered and addressed . Career freedom fighters must be exposed and genuine agitators should be encouraged ,that way ,the public will know the right course of action. Finally ,effective communication is key in the whole process as the issue is very sensitive.
Ndubuisi Anaenugwu is the Deputy Leader of Good Governance Ministry.
Joint Statement by The Government of Anambra State and the Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Bishops/Archbishops on the State of Insecurity in the Igbo Homesteads
1. Further to the call by the Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulership and Bishops/Archbishops (Joint Body) on Peace and Conflict Resolution in October 2021 for restoration of genuine peace and normalcy in the South East based on justice, equity, fairness, love, mutual understanding and respect; and to the invitation of the new Governor of Anambra State, at his inauguration address on March 17, 2022, to all non-State Actors to interrogate their goals and methods, the representatives of the Traditional Rulers and Religious Leaders in Anambra State convened a meeting with representatives of the Anambra State Government and the Counsel to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to consider path ways to restore normalcy in Anambra State.
2. You may recall that a number of groups have previously called on the Federal Government to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to no avail. Indeed, the present Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, solidarized with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whilst he was held in Kuje prison, awaiting trial, on February 28, 2017 and followed up with demand for his release after he was granted bail by the High Court. On its part, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) announced ‘a total lockdown of social and economic activities every Monday starting from August 9 in the South-East region of the country’ on July 30th, 2021 ostensibly to press home the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
3. While we have severally, collectively and individually supported the call for his release from incarceration, the experience of the past 14 months, however, leaves no iota of doubt that the Sit At Home is blurring the intent and objective of the agitation and it is time for us to count our losses and move on. It is beyond doubt that the Sit-At-Home exercise has done incalculable damage to the economy of Anambra State and indeed the Southeast. We are losing the most productive day of the week as intra-, inter-state and even international business activity are severely constrained, and slowly forcing the diversion of economic activity to other commercial centres outside Alaigbo.
4. it is therefore abundantly clear to all that the Monday- Sit-At-Home is ill advised and counter-productive. All over the world, it is our inalienable right to make demands, make our voices to be heard, make agitations against perceived injustice and the reality of marginalisation. It is however totally unacceptable to stop our children from going to school, to destroy our means of livelihoods, to kill, maim or recklessly destroy properties of the so-called potential beneficiaries of the struggle, to make our economies unattractive to investors, and to create an environment in which our youth have little hope of realising their legitimate dreams and aspirations for jobs and wealth creation.
5. We have taken cognisance of the August 24, 2021 announcement by members of IPOB of the suspension of the Sit-At-Home , and subsequent repeat announcements no doubt arising from the continued enforcement through killings, abductions, beating and burning of properties of innocent citizens. We also note the recent press release by IPOB spokespersons of April 1st, 2022 stating inter alia, “We wish to reiterate once again that IPOB has cancelled Monday sit- at-home order and anybody or group enforcing the relaxed order is neither from IPOB nor from IPOB volunteer group.”
6. With the foregoing in mind, and following consultations, the Government of Anambra State, and the Joint Body jointly state as follows:
i. We recognise that there is country-wide agitation 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 marginalisation of the Southeast Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria, a major plank of the agitation by the IPOB.
ii. We call 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.
iii. We join our voices to the call 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.
7. Accordingly, we jointly present to the people of Southeast and other Igbo homesteads, the following immediate steps:
a) 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 or face the implacable force of law and order.
b) We call on all who may have taken up arms in the belief that their grievances could be achieved only through armed struggle to lay down their arms. The government and good people of Anambra hereby offer the olive branch for you all to return. The Anambra State government hereby undertakes to train, rehabilitate and empower you to contribute to our homeland development. The centres where our youths can register for help will be announced shortly.
c) We call on all injured, aggrieved and victims of the insecurity in Alaigbo over the past 3 years to step forward and cooperate with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that will be inaugurated by the Anambra State Government next week to conduct an inquiry into the remote and immediate causes of the agitations, documentation and examination of the circumstances surrounding the killings in the south east, and recommendations on the road to sustainable solutions.
d) We declare Monday, April 4th, 2022 as a Day Of Prayer For Peace for Alaigbo. We implore Ndi Anambra and all religious congregations to join in this important day of Prayer. It will take place within the premises of the Cathedrals, Churches and prayer houses across ala Igbo by 11:00am and we enjoin the faithful wherever you maybe across Nigeria, or abroad to pause and join in fellowship as we seek the face of our Father. It is the expectation of the Joint Body that the conclusion of the prayer session shall mark the end of Sit-At-Home in Anambra State in particular and the Southeast region in general.
8. In conclusion, the march towards peace and the restoration of normalcy in our society and economy requires the collective action of all people of God. We thank you for your time and commitment to the restoration of peace and the upliftment of the people of Anambra State, the Igbo homesteads and Nigeria at large.
Signed
for Traditional Rulers
for Bishops
for Anambra State Government
H.M. Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR
Chairman, Anambra State Trad. Rulers Council
His Grace, Archbishop Valerian Okeke
Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province
Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu
Secretary to the State Government
H.M. Igwe Laurence Agubuzu,
Chairman, Ebonyi State Trad. Rulers Council
.
His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr) Chibuzo R. Opoko, JP
Secretary, Representatives of Archbishops and Bishops
Anambra State Government has initiated moves for a more peaceful and prosperous homeland in the state and the South East region.
This started with a one day peace building and security dialogue convened at the instance of the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo.
The discussion became imperative out of growing concern on the spate of insecurity in Igbo land.
Stakeholders in the state including Security Chiefs, Religious Leaders, Community Leaders, among others, converged on Professor Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center, Awka to make a clarion call for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, count the losses and move on.
Reading out a Joint Statement by the Government of Anambra State and the Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Bishops and Archbishops on the State of Insecurity in the Igbo Homesteads, the Chairman of Anambra state and South East Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe who hinted that the discussion started long ago, revealed that the IPOB has long canceled the sit at home which has unfortunately become counter-productive.
While appreciating the joint statement, Governor Soludo who said that Anambra, South East and Nigeria are all in a regrettable state of insecurity, explained that the spirit of Anambra is different from bloodshed and wanton violence, canvassing for an end to all forms of violent agitations as the dialogue is ongoing.
The Governor pointed out that it is time to differently and seriously engage with the good, the bad and the ugly without discrimination to entrench peace and security in the land.
He supported the position of the joint body and hopefully with Governors of the South East as well as every Nigerian for Nnamdi Kanu to recieve expeditious justice, because according to him, justice delayed is justice denied, saying that the monday sit at home is not a way to protest and cautioned that anybody enforcing the continous sit at home will henceforth be regarded as a criminal.
IPOB Reveals Name And Face Behind Unknown Gunmen In South- Eas
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) accused Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed follower of group leader Nnamdi Kanu, of being involved in criminal operations in the Southeast on Friday.
According to IPOB, Ekpa and his “Autopilot” gang are primarily blame for the region’s illegal activities.
IPOB made this assertion while assuring Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo that the group was not to blame for the turmoil in the region.
Ekpa and his group are threatening people in the region, according to IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful, for failing to comply with the Monday sit-at-home order.
A statement released by Powerful reads, “We the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to tell Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State that IPOB is not responsible for the criminality in Southeast, including Anambra State. The Governor should know that our enemies are committing atrocities using our name in their desperation to blackmail IPOB.
“It is a certain Simon Ekpa and his criminal gang called Autopilots that are carrying out threats against people’s lives because of non-existent Monday sit-at-home are criminals, kidnappers and robbers. These people disturbing the peace of our people are not IPOB members. They should be treated as criminals. IPOB doesn’t shed blood. We are a peaceful movement.”
IPOB noted that Monday sit-at-home had been cancelled, adding that anyone enforcing it is not their member.
He further stated, “We wish to reiterate once again that IPOB has cancelled Monday sit- at-home order and anybody or group enforcing the relaxed order is neither from IPOB nor from IPOB volunteer group. Any governor in the region who deemed it fit to stop non-existent Monday sit-at-home order in the region is free to do so.
“Anyone caught adding to the pain of our people in the name of enforcing Monday sit-at-home order will be treated like the enemy that he or she is.
“We, therefore, warn these agents of darkness using the name of IPOB to enforce a non-existent sit-at-home to desist because if we lay hold on them.
“Why should such unpatriotic elements be inflicting pain on our people and dragging our image to the mud?
“IPOB remains a non-violent movement and our peaceful approach for Biafra restoration has not changed.
In line with the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration’s urban renewal effort in Okpoko, Ogbaru Council Area, its environs and the state in general, an enforcement team led by the state Physical Planning Board today, began marking of structures for removal in Okpoko.
The enforcement team was led by the Executive Chairman of the Board, Barrister Chike Maduekwe.
Armed with the Master Plan of Okpoko, the team sited the area from the Second Niger Bridge.
In the process, it was established that over two hundred structures are blocking the road, drainage and water way, thereby preventing successful emptying of flood water into the Niger River.
Okpoko, a sprawling slum which has a population of over a million, sits on the east bank of the Niger River just north of the larger city of Onitsha.
The clean up exercise is one of the major deliverables of Soludo’s plan to make Anambra a liveable city.
Barrister Maduekwe explained that the major challenge in the area is that many people blocked the waterway especially the Sakamori drainage, saying that when it rains, it stops water from emptying into the Niger River, causing flooding with its attendant damages
He revealed that the Governor has given instruction to mark every house on the waterway and give them notice to remove by themselves, stating that if they don’t remove those structures, government will do so and charge them for the expenses.
The Chief Surveyor, Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Somto Atuenyi who pointed out that his mission is to be a guide, said that the board remains focused and committed to the mandate.
Some of the residents expressed joy that the Governor has kept his promise, praying God to help him complete what they described as genuine desire to transform the state.
You will recall that true to his promise, Governor Soludo Visited Okpoko on the 18th of March, 2022, a day after he was sworn in as Governor, where he performed on the spot assessment of the area.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Monday, said it will shutdown the ongoing nationwide continuous voters’ registration (CVR) pre-registration online portal in April in preparation for the 2023 general election.
This was disclosed by the Commission’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, during an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
Okoye said: “We are going to shutdown the online portal latest by April but the physical registration will be going on until June.
“After June, the possibility of extending the CVR process is next to impossibility because we got to clean up the register, do claims and objections, and we have to print Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).
“People have to collect PVCs and we have to give every registered political party the voters’ register that will be used for the 2023 general election. The law has obligated us to stop everything relating to voter registration at a particularly point in time.”
Okoye said shutting the portal had become imperative for INEC to clear those who had done their online pre-registration for the purpose of capturing their biometrics.
He said the fourth and final quarter of the ongoing CVR, billed to start on April 11 would be rounded off in June and urged Nigerians to do the needful at the right time to avoid last minute rush.
The INEC commissioner said the commission had seven services on the online registration portal for eligible voters as against six in previous registrations.He added that the seventh allowed people to locate where their PVCs were domiciled.
For those who registered during the first, second and third quarters of the ongoing CVR, he said the chairman of the commission will soon let them know the date and time when the new PVCs will be ready and the points of collection.
“Some of these PVCs have already been printed and we want people to come and collect them. The fourth and the last quarter will end sometime in June. Now, we do not want a situation where people will begin to rush to register at the 11th hour, to create a surge in our local government and state offices.”
As part of Prof Chukwuma Soludo initiative to take Anambra to the world and also bring the world to Anambra, Soludo had a roundtable engagement with Leaders of foreign Missions and Country Representatives of key International Development and Financial Agencies on the 24th of March in Abuja.
Among other things, Soludo Government discussed areas of Partnership, project financing opportunities and other bilateral trade options available to Anambra State Government guarantees her Development Partners value for their investment in the State .
According to Prof Soludo ”This reason and more is why we must make our State uncomfortable to criminals and their trade. If the vision is to create a Liveable and Prosperous Homeland, we then should recognise the need to engage relevant partners within and outside our shores. As a people, we hope to mainstream the letters of the “Peoples’ Manifesto” in line with the contents of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) developed by the United nations. This meeting is one out of a series of many others that will take place in the coming days.Anambra will Definitely succeed in our time”
