Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has distanced himself from the separatist agitation in the South-East, emphasizing that the region’s progress and prosperity depend on its unity within the Nigerian federation.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor made it clear that while he supports peaceful dialogue and the right to protest, he does not share the secessionist ideology championed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
“We’ve made it very clear that if you are protesting or agitating for anything, you are holding yourself down by killing your own people under the pretext of Monday’s sit-at-home,” Soludo said.
He explained that the once-dreaded sit-at-home directive has lost traction in Anambra, crediting the change to improved security and increased public awareness.
“Anybody sitting at home now is doing so out of personal choice, not because of insecurity, as it were, because everywhere is secure on Mondays,” he added.
The governor acknowledged that IPOB’s leadership, including Nnamdi Kanu himself, had long disowned the sit-at-home order, blaming criminal gangs for exploiting it to unleash terror in the region.
“Even Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB are on record to have said they did not support the Monday sit-at-home. It was some criminal elements doing that, and we thank our security agencies for restoring order,” Soludo said.
While affirming his respect for democratic freedoms, Soludo stressed that his primary duty is governance, not activism.
“As for those agitating or demonstrating, they have the right to do so. In a democracy, everyone has freedom of expression. But my role is to govern—while social activists do their job, I’ll do mine,” he said.
Soludo also revealed that he had urged the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other South-East leaders to engage Nnamdi Kanu in dialogue upon his release, insisting that the region’s future should be determined collectively.
“I said, why don’t they tell Nnamdi Kanu to come and sit with everybody else, because nobody has a greater right than the other? We are all Igbos, and we are all entitled to our views,” he noted.
Reaffirming his strong belief in unity, Soludo declared that the Igbo people stand to gain more within a united Nigeria.
“I believe the Igbo man needs Nigeria, and Nigeria needs the Igbo man. The Igbo man needs Africa, and Africa needs the Igbo man. We are an itinerant people who cannot afford to be intolerant. That’s my conviction,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s diversity is divinely ordained, and the South-East must embrace cooperation and integration.
“Do we need Nigeria? Absolutely! And Nigeria needs us. That is my very deep belief. I hold it with no apologies and am ready to debate it anywhere,” he asserted.
Soludo’s comments come amid renewed calls for the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. The ongoing #FreeNnamdiKanuNow campaign has gained support from key opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and activist Omoyele Sowore, who have announced plans for a peaceful protest in Abuja on October 20.
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