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Chukwuma Soludo, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has said if elected governor of the state in the November 6 poll, he will empower no fewer than one million youths annually.
The brilliant economist, who recently declared plans to contest for the governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, stated this while addressing stakeholders of the party in Awka, Anambra State.
The professor of Economics described APGA’s victory in the November 6 election as a major determinant of the future and lifespan of the party as a political organisation.
He called on APGA faithful to deploy measures that would ensure victory for the party in the poll.
He said, “My mission is to work with all members of the party to spread the party across Nigeria. I will turn APGA from a political party into a cooperative movement.
“Anambra Vision 2070 is a 50-year plan that will make the state liveable and prosperous for our children.
“The election is consequential and no APGA member must joke with the election. APGA over the past 15 years has taken Anambra into global heights.
“In spite of declining receipts from the Federation Account, the state wants to complete an International Airport City, Conference centre, stadium and other facilities.
“Our target is to empower not less than a million youths every year; the poor will be given a series of opportunities to transform their lives. We need to consolidate the lofty economic policies of Governor Willie Obiano. It is a collective responsibility.”
Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on February 21, 2021 received a massive boost in Ideani, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State as Ndi Idemili rose in unison to throw their weight behind his governorship bid. In a colourful and well attended ceremony in Ideani country home of Chief Leon Mezue, the people made up of leaders of thought, members of Soludo support groups, youths and women, adopted Soludo as their candidate for governor in the Anambra 2021 governorship election amidst cheers and jubilation.
Chief Leon Mezue, calm, humble and deliberate, together with his hardworking Soludo Promoters Forum (SPF) Executives of Idemili North and South, put the event together after weeks of planning and gritty execution. Mezue and Prof. Joseph Ogbuefi are saddled with oversight of the activities of the two heavily populated local governments. They have proven time and time again that they are battle ready with their nimble-footed ground troops.
Soludo, who was ably represented at the event by the Anambra State Honourable Commissioner for Public Utilities, Engr. Emeka Ezenwanne, thanked Ndi Idemili for their support, sacrifices, love and for believing in Soludo’s vision of transforming Anambra into a livable and prosperous state that offers opportunities for Ndi Anambra and foreigners. He assured that Soludo would completely devote himself to lifting the poor out of poverty and move Anambra state higher, higher and higher. He implored the cheering crowd to support the journey to the promised land with their ideas and talents.
Engr. Ezenwanne also expressed his gratitude to the Idemili people, assuring them that their confidence in Soludo will not be taken for granted. He explained that the beauty of a Soludo governorship is hinged on the fact that he will hit the ground running, having been closely associated with the programmes of this government in addition to his leadership of the Government Committee on the development plan for the next fifty years.
A very elated Chief Mezue welcomed guests, during which he drew attention to the deplorable state of the intra-city roads in his community. This was followed by an explanation of the reason for establishing Soludo Promoters Forum by this writer. His speech was followed by another thank you message by Hon. Chike Anyaonu.
A goodwill message on behalf of the support groups was delivered by Chinedu Nwoye. The frenzy of excitement of the youths led by their hardworking Dr. Nelson Omenugha reached a crescendo with the unveiling of their Soludo branded wrapper, donated by an SPF member.
The Ideani Soludo reception was indeed a political earthquake that has indeed eclipsed the opposition in the two Frontline local governments. Why? How? Soludo Solution is knocking at the doorsteps of Ndi Idemili and everywhere you go, hundreds of thousands hearts are opening and as they say, once hearts open to new and beautiful ideas, they will never be the same again. And a livable Anambra Smart Megacity is truly beautiful.
According to the time table released by INEC, Ndi Anambra will on November 6, 2021 have a date with history. With the sad effect of Covid19 on the world economy this election calls for sober reflection. Beyond rhetorics and grandstanding Anambra should look for a man with the capabilities to improve the infrastructure deficit that currently bedevils most states in Nigeria. We need a man who can build our roads and stabilize our security network. A man with the economic wand to improve the State GDP through policies that stimulate economic growth and shore up the State’s IGR. Industrialize the State through PPP so as to provide employment for our teeming youths. Sustain payment of workers’ salaries and pensions.
Anambra wants a visioner who does not have to wait every month for Federal Government Allocation before carring out developmental plans for his people.
This task requires an egg hesd like Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Odenigbo Aguata na Orumba. He is a multi-dimensional professional with top of the mountain credentials. He works practically round the clock tirelessly. A technocrat that has the capacity and intellect to turn Anambra State to a model State.
As the Economic Adviser to former President Obasanjo, Soludo conceptualized the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS). It was known as SEEDS and LEEDS at the states and local government levels. It was domesticated as Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS) in this State. It promoted the simultaneous development of all sectors of the State economy.
As the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria he broke the myth surrounding the management of the nation’s Apex Bank. He revolutionalised Nigeria’s financial powerhouse, and made its governance flow with the tenacity of an electric clock. He theorised the vision. He catalyzed it. At CBN, Soludo came,saw and actually conquered. Little wonder today, Nigerians deposit their hard earned money in Soludo’s recapitalized banks and sleep with their two eyes closed unlike the situation before he came on board.
His international connections which shall be of immense benefits to the Light of the Nation State cannot be over emphasized. Anambra State cannot afford to lose this once in a lifetime opportunity of exploiting the goodwill of Prof. Soludo amongst international financial institutions. Just yesterday, his colleague, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was appointed the Director General of World Trade Organization (WTO). With Soludo at the helm of affairs, WTO is waiting for Anambra to harness. European Central Bank President and former Chair and Managing Director of IMF, Christine Lagarde has been a long time working partner of our own Charles Soludo; in sum, Anambra State should pluck these hanging fruits with both hands. The positive spin off of these working relationship on the economy of Anambra State’s Entrepreneurs, Traders, MSME, and Artisans shall be great.
It was the above backdrop that propelled professionals from the State who hitherto been out of politics, to resolve to take part in the State’s political process, hence the formation of Soludo Promoters Forum (SPF) with Chief Joe Anatune, an indefatigable worker and prolific writer as its Natural Coordinator. Today, the message of SPF, which is total support for Soludo is moving with the speed of a hurricane throughout the State. Idemili North and South with over 20 percent of the State’s registered voters have since joined the movement seeking for purposeful leadership for Ndi Anambra. Yes, come this weekend the two LGs will host this man of uncommon courage, prudent manager of resources, incredibly creative mind, visioner of a new Anambra Megacity in Ideani at the countryhome of an ardent Apostle of the Soludo vision, Ide Chief Leon Mezue. Prof. Joe Ogbuefi, great mobiliser and an undiluted disciple of the vision shall be on hand to welcome Prof. C.C. Soludo and his friends, able led by Chief Joe Anatune to Idemili, land of progress. Ndi Anambra, no matter your party leaning lets join hands and do it together.
February 13, 2021. Prof Paul Ejikeme is a fascinating man. I admire his energy and vigour. Like all Ojoto men and women, he communicates with proverbs.
Ejikeme is the leader of Soludo Promoters Forum (SPF) in Ojoto. He is tailor-made for the job as he knows his way round this exciting community. He and his crack team led us round Ojoto and the verdict we gleaned is clear – Ojoto is for Prof. Chukwuma Soludo in the Anambra Gubernatorial election billed for November 6 2021.
In the typical Ojoto characterisation, the suave and warm monarch, HRH Igwe Gerald Mbamalu asked us rhetorically, to put Soludo and the other aspirants on a scale and ascertain who weighs more. He smiled, stared at his guests as if waiting for the answer. Obviously, your answer is as good as mine. Not done, the Igwe bluntly intoned with a wide grin that Soludo’s records in private and public services speak for him.
With Prof. Raph Okigbo, Prince Okafor, Maik Uzagu, Prof. Joe Ogbuefi, Chief Leon Mezue as bulwarks in support of Ejikeme, Ojoto, before and after the bridge is good to go.
In all these, Ojoto has particularly made my brother, Cdon Adinuba happy as it “retaliated” the honour Soludo bestowed on their illustrious son, late Dr. Pius Okigbo, by bringing Prof. Joseph Eugene Stiglitz who won the Noble Laureate in Economics in 2021 for his analysis of markets with asymmetric information, to Enugu to give a keynote address in Okigbo’ s memorial lecture. Soludo is a protege of the great Okigbo, who most probably would be grinning in his grave for the right choice his people have made. It is instructive that Lagos State Government is poised to transform the state into a smart city by 2030, a vision that Soludo would begin implementing if elected governor on November 6, 2021. We will come back to this subject another day.
The Ojoto Inauguration meeting was also a brainstorming session as Chief Leon Mezue and I were put on the hot seat by Prof. Raph Okigbo to share with the Inaugurated team, the way forward. Notwithstanding, the refreshments were sumptuous and helped to buoy the mood.
Prince Okafor ended the meeting with a very reassuring vote of thanks and typical of his people, laced this with rich proverbs. We will certainly return to Ojoto to open more hearts for the Anambra Smart Megacity.
Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe condemns in unreserved terms the destruction of the Abayi Police Station in Aba, Abia State by hoodlums.
Senator Abaribe in a statement released in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom also laments the reported killing of two policemen in the mayhem.
Accordingly, the lawmaker called on the police and other security agencies to quickly apprehend perpetrators of the heinous crime and ensure that the full weight of the law is applied to bring them to justice.
Senator Abaribe who was shocked by the unwarranted attack, said resort to violence of such magnitude by the hoodlums is unprecedented, most heart rendering and must be stopped immediately.
“I do not think there is any reason whatsoever, that could warrant this animalistic resort to killings, destructions or violence in any form.
“Most condemnable by every discerning mind is the dangerous affront at every turn on the lives of our police officers and security agents, who toil, go through most horrendous and excruciating experience everyday for the safety of lives and properties of Nigerians.
“I am pained by this dastardly act and I urge the security agencies to apply all available resources to bring the hoodlums to justice”, he said.
Nonetheless, Senator Abaribe condoled with the officers and men of the Abia State Police command on the unfortunate incident.
Popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, on Monday, said bandits were pushed by circumstances and only killed for “revenge”.
He said the bandits have only killed a “few” people accidentally.
The cleric spoke while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’
Of late, Sheikh Gumi has been seen in photos holding talks with notorious bandits in the forests of Zamfara, Niger and other states. He had also advocated blanket amnesty for the bandits like was done for the militants in the Niger Delta region.
He said, “I choose to call them (bandits) militants because they are fighting an ethnic war. They are kidnapping to get money. Look at the case where they released a bus full of people, they were asking for N500 million but now, they freed them with mere negotiations for free. Nothing was paid. Even one of them victims’ father called me to thank me.”
Sheikh Gumi, who met with bandits in the forest of Niger last Saturday, over some kidnapped persons in the state, said there was hope that the abducted students and staff of Government Science College, Kagara, would be freed.
He said, “Since there is a peace process, they are ready to lay down their arms, stop kidnapping and all the things they are doing. And you call them killer herdsmen, how many people do they kill? Sometimes, they are on drugs. They want the money.When they kill, it is mostly accidental, maybe somebody they took who is sick. But tell me who they have killed? How many? Few
The cleric stressed that the bandits were fighting an ethnic war. He also said the bandits speak Fulfulde and Hausa, adding that they are Nigerians. “They are Nigerians, no doubt about that. Some of them have parents in the town.”
“Now we are not talking about banditry but an ethnic war between the nomadic Fulani, the herdsmen and the others – everybody who is not them.
“We are having an ethnic war, the Fulani feels his existence is threatened. What they do is to call other people from other places. Irrespective of where they are, a Fulani is a Fulani, they go to defend their kinsmen, that is why they transit the borders and then go back,” he added.
Sheikh Gumi insisted that peaceful negotiation was the only way to end the menace of banditry. He, therefore, called on Christian and Muslim leaders to join him in brokering peace with the bandits.
It is no longer news that Nigeria Army rules of engagement in dealing with the civilian populace have not been respected and that could be seen in the manner Nigeria military handled the Obigbo saga. BVI Channel 1 obtained the full release on how Ladies kidnapped in Obigbo and kept under DSS/ military facilities for months were treated. The statement reads in full ” The methodologies used by Nigerian Army under Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai (as he then was) in its current field operations are filled with illegalities and nothing to write home about. They are, to say the least, crude, unprofessional, hateful, unconstitutional, locally and internationally unlawful, non human rights compliant, un-secular and ethnically and religiously discriminatory and cleansing. In arresting citizens wrongly or rightly suspected to have offended punishable laws bordering on Crimes against Persons or Crimes against the State or Crimes against Properties-all categorized globally into “mala inse” and “mala prohibita”; soldiering and policing authorities in any democratic Member-State of UN including Nigeria are inexcusably prohibited and barred from abducting citizens outside public knowledge and records, hatefully and criminally labeling them, taking them into custody and torturing, shooting and raping them to death (if females); disappearing the corpses of those openly or secretly shot and killed or raped to death, detaining the arrested ad infinitum and beyond the limits prescribed in written laws and totally blocking access of the arrested and detained to their families, physicians and lawyers. Totality of these was the case in Obigbo Army massacre and abductions.
Army Lacks Power To Detain Citizens Not Subject To The Armed Forces Act
In Nigeria, apart from the country’s written laws restricting the activities of the military particularly the Nigerian Army to issues of defense of territory in situation of interstate or intra state armed conflict and barring them from trespassing or going beyond their defined duties including usurping the key duties of the Nigeria Police Force such as arrest, detention, investigation and prosecution of suspected civilian offenders and their offenses; there have also been several Decided Cases barring the Army/Military from “arresting, detaining and investigating citizens who are not subject to the Armed Forces Act or any other Military law”. A case in point was a recent landmark judgment on the subject matter delivered by Hon Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on 17th Feb 2021.
Use Of Term “Abduction”
The adoption and use of “abduction” by the International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law on Obigbo Army massacre and abductions is both legally and knowledgeably grounded. It is further strengthened by patterns and motives adopted by the Army (presently dominated and controlled by Fulani-Hausa Muslims). Official arrests and detentions are lawful, constitutional and human rights compliant when they are conducted by the authorities competently authorized to do so and done within the confines of due processes and procedures including making such arrests and detentions a public knowledge, ensuring access of the arrested and the detained to their families, lawyers and physicians, avoiding torture and other inhuman treatments while holding them in detention and ensuring that such arrests and detentions are not conducted during criminal and illegitimate hours or circumstances such as in the dead of the night; and the movement, detention and torturing of the victims during same criminal or illegitimate hours; ensuring that the victims are brought to court for trial within periods and limits prescribed by the Constitution; and providing them with fair hearing and trial environments and guaranteed rights.
These, however, were far from being the case in the Obigbo Army massacre and abductions. Apart from the Nigerian Army gravely overstepping its line of responsibilities including ‘arresting, detaining and investigating citizens (defenseless civilians) not subject to the Armed Forces Act or any other Military law’, it has also, till date, declined or refused to make or issue any official statement on those it abducted and their whereabouts. The Army further acted illegally and unlawfully by moving the victims in the dead of the night and extra-jurisdictionally; refusing to hand them over to the appropriate Civil Authorities such as the Nigeria Police Force for appropriate actions including investigating them of the alleged offenses, if any and taking them to court for trial; or releasing them on administrative bail; or discharging and acquitting them after non-indictable investigations.
The Army also acted unconstitutionally, inhumanly, hatefully and abominably by holding the victims particularly the over 60 girls and young women among them incommunicado and outside access to their families, physicians and lawyers and public knowledge for four months. This is to the extent that even when the secret abductions were evidentially exposed by rights groups and activists, the Nigerian Army still remained adamant and unrepentant, refusing to speak up and releasing unconditionally other abductees in its captivity till date.
Again, it was a height of abomination and atrocity for some personnel of the Nigerian Army to have serially raped its abducted female victims and denied abducting, holding and transferring them to DSS for further captivity. Totality of these strongly suggests that the Army intended hatefully to abduct, secretly detain, torture, rape (females among them) and massacre the victims and disappear their bodies without traces; all on the grounds of the victims’ ethnicity and religion (.i.e. Igbo tribe and Christianity). It must also be clearly pointed out that neither Nigerian Army (lacks power to detain, investigate and arraign civilian citizens) nor DSS has filed any criminal complaint against any of their abductees or captives since October or November 2020 in any court in Nigeria. Instead, what the Army did was to abduct, detain, torture, rape and transfer the victims outside the law to DSS or another for further captivity.
The victims only get freed when their names are stressfully and painfully traced by activists and bail applications filed and successfully granted and served on the Army authorities, after which the Army authorities get them out from different secret locations where they are kept and hidden. Totality of these is abominable and unknown to Sections 35 and 36 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution particularly sub section 4 of Section 35 and sub sections 8 and 12 of Section 36.
DSS Uses Kangaroo Remand Orders To Incarcerate Obigbo Abductees Transferred By Army
The Nigerian Army and the Department of the State Security Service or DSS are “partners in crime” as it concerns the Obigbo Army abductions. It must be placed on clear record that the over 400 Obigbo abductees were solely abducted by the Nigerian Army and we are yet to come across credible pieces of evidence linking the DSS in the despicable and hateful abductions. However, DSS is complicit when it comes to accepting to further incarcerate the abductees transferred to its facilities by the Army. To further keep the abductees, the DSS resorts to obtaining kangaroo remand orders which are hardly reviewed judicially at expiration leading to the abductees being kept in its dungeons ad infinitum and without trial. It is a common knowledge that court remand orders are issued for purpose of continuation and conclusion of criminal investigation within stipulated time frames.
This is more so when the families, physicians and lawyers of the abductees are totally blocked and unaware of the whereabouts of the abductees. It is also on record that DSS has never taken any of its detained abductees to court months after he or she was transferred from the Nigerian Army. The DSS has also refused to speak on those it received and detained from the Nigerian Army particularly the 53 girls and young women recently traced to its dungeons presently in its custody as well as dozens of others judicially rescued from its custodies in different parts of Abuja. By law, the DSS as Nigeria’s interior intelligence gathering outfit also overstepped its bounds as it is not legally empowered to detain and torture defenseless citizens of Obigbo residency category and keep them secretly and perpetually in custody without administrative release or court trial and public knowledge.
How The Obigbo Abductees Were Robbed By Soldiers
Another abominable and atrocious act of soldiers of the Nigerian Army was dispossessing and robbing the abductees of all their personal belongings at the point of their abductions and detention facilities of first instance. The personal belongings robbed and disappeared till date since Oct/Nov 2020 included smart phones and other mobile phones and their sim-cards, recharge credits and loaded data; cash sums including fraudulent withdrawal of the victims’ bank cash deposits using mobile apps installed in their mobile phones and ATM cards; bangles, necklaces, wrist watches, large cash sums realized from daily sales or contract payments; bank credit cards or ATMs, identification cards, international passports, etc.
Those monetary and other valuable items were violently collected and possessed by soldiers from both male and female abductees in their hundreds. Items robbed and taken away permanently (robbed) from the over 60 abducted girls and young women included female handbags, sanitary pads, jewelries, make-up packs, perfumes, spare pants and braziers, eye and reading glasses and so on. It is on record that none of the freed abductees both males and females had gone back home from Army captivity with any of the items listed above. It is also on record that at release, the freed abductees were given new phones to reconnect with their families and new sets of clothes and toiletries to get re-clothed them and looked fresh.
Abducted Obigbo Women Wore One Set Of Underwear For Four Months In Army Captivity
Going by our findings including oral interviews from the two freed Obigbo girls and insider sources at Army and DSS dungeons, the over 60 abducted Obigbo girls and young women have been made to wear one set of underwear (a pant and a brazier) from Oct/Nov 2020 till date in Army and DSS captivity. In other words, the victims have been made to wear the same set of pants and braziers worn when they were abducted by soldiers of the Nigerian Army in Oct/Nov 2020 at various points of their abductions in Obigbo. This is more so when the Nigerian Army and the DSS have totally blocked the victims’ access to their loved ones including physicians, families and friends and declined to make their abduction and captivity a public knowledge or have them released or freed unconditionally. We also doubt if COVID-19 protocols have been observed in secret dungeons where they have been held for four months. Apart from serious suspicion of routine sexual harassments, the over 60 women presently in the captivity of the Army and the DSS are most likely to have been exposed to a litany of health dangers including sexually transmitted diseases and other health challenges as well as mental and menstrual discomforts. Only God knows if they have been infected with HIV virus by serial rapists in service uniforms holding them captive”
