BREAKING: It’s Time To Interrogate IPOB’s Purpose – Soludo Says During Swearing-In-Ceremony

Chukwuma Charles Soludo during his swearing-in as the fifth governor of Anambra state on Thursday, which took place at the Government House, Awka, the state’s capital, spoke about the security and the well-being of the people of the state.

The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, who took over from Chief Willie Obiano, took the oath of office together with his deputy, Onyeka Ibezim.

Soludo explained the importance of security in order to spur investment in his speech on how to ensure rapid development within the state and the region.

It is only through ensuring that all stakeholders are on board with the agenda, as well as by questioning the motives of secessionist agitations such as the Indigenous People of Biafra and its military arm, the Eastern Security Network, that this can be accomplished, according to him.

It has been claimed that IPOB, a secessionist group campaigning for the creation of an independent State of Biafra, is responsible for the deadly attacks in the South-east and South-South regions of Nigeria.

Nnamdi Kanu, the group’s leader, has been in the custody of Nigeria’s secret police, the DSS, since his capture in Kenya. He is now on trial for treason.

In order to unravel the rationale for its repeated attacks, Soludo said, “It is time to interrogate the purpose of IPOB and ESN. The politicians using it as a means must come out in order for a consensus regarding our future. The conspiracy of silence by stakeholders must stop. I challenge the group denying the killings to come out and work with my administration in order to ensure peace and security in the state.

“We need Nigeria and Nigeria needs us with our numbers and resources in the Diaspora; we don’t need to leave and we will take the various agitations to the Federal Government in order to resolve the disagreement with justice. I am convinced peace will return to the state.”

Soludo also appealed for peace, while reiterating the need for dialogue despite the anger of the Joint Body of South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops who expressed displeasure over the handling of insecurity in the South-East.

According to them in a March 7 communique, the presidency failed to seek dialogue as a means to end insecurity in the region.

They also faulted governors from the region for refusing to honour calls for dialogue.

“I appeal to the joint council of traditional rulers, the South-East Governors and the Presidency to look at the suggestions in the March 7 tripartite discussions regarding IPOB/ESN. This is necessary for peace,” Soludo said.

Among those in attendance were the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Oye, and his wife, Uchenna Okafor; Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Uchenna Okafor and wife; Sen. Victor Umeh and his wife; Bianca Ojukwu, clergymen, traditional rulers, and others.