IPOB in London Funded Unrest, Targeted Soludo — Obigwe Claims
A chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Evangelist Chinedu Obigwe, has accused those who confronted Governor Charles Soludo at a town hall meeting in London of being sponsors of the killings, arson, and insecurity in Anambra State.
Some individuals had earlier accused the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, of not making sufficient efforts to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. They also alleged that he was sponsoring attacks and killings of youths in the area.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, Obigwe said those sponsoring unrest in Anambra and the South-East are, in fact, the same people who have vested interests in the continuation of violence and instability in the region.
Obigwe, who is the National Coordinator of the APGA Media Warriors Forum, stated that for the first time in the past ten years, Anambra State witnessed a mass return of its people during festive periods, with cultural and traditional activities held with pomp and pageantry.
According to him, these so-called agitators are, in reality, enemies of Anambra State and Ndigbo at large, given that they are protesting against the peace and tranquility currently being enjoyed by the people.
He further noted that many of these agitators have not visited home in the past ten years due to fear of being kidnapped or killed, and that their relatives have consistently advised them to stay away.
“We challenge them to come home to have a firsthand, on-the-spot assessment of the peace in Igboland, rather than making bogus and false claims,” he said.
He added that the attention of the APGA Media Warriors Forum had been drawn to reports that Governor Charles Soludo was confronted by a group claiming to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
According to him, the confrontation allegedly occurred during a town hall meeting in London convened by the governor to interact with Anambra indigenes in the diaspora and present the developmental strides of his administration as a foundation for the next four years.
He said the group accused the governor of not doing enough to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and further alleged that he was sponsoring attacks and killings in the region.
Obigwe stated that, against this backdrop, it had become necessary to clarify certain issues.
He explained that at the inception of Governor Soludo’s administration, the governor appealed to criminal elements operating in forests to surrender under an amnesty programme and undergo rehabilitation, but they refused.
He said Soludo also urged them to lay down their arms and join in the development of Anambra State, an appeal that lasted for several months.
According to him, those who accepted the offer were reintegrated into society, while some detainees were granted bail.
“Above all, Governor Charles Soludo visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the DSS facility. During that visit, he described the Monday sit-at-home order as illegal and condemned the killings and kidnappings in Igboland as unacceptable.
“Despite these honest and deliberate efforts by the governor, those miscreants operating under the guise of IPOB continued to hold eight local government areas of Anambra State under siege. People fled their homes, and the economy of the entire South-East was severely sabotaged.
“Consequently, in response to the prevailing lawlessness, Governor Charles Soludo launched Operation Udo Ga Chi, which comprises the Agunechemba Security Squad alongside all security service commands in the state, with the aim of ending the carnage in Anambra State,” he said.
Obigwe further stated that Governor Soludo has consistently advocated for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, including urging the Federal Government to hand him over.
He described it as regrettable that some fifth columnists and uninformed individuals have chosen to protest against the restoration of peace, security, sanity, and the rule of law in Anambra State.
