Prof. Charles Soludo, Anambra State Governor.
The Ohanaeze Youth Council, the Apex Socio-cultural organization of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has reacted to the recent interview of the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo over his unguided statement on insecurity in Anambra State.
Comrade Igboayaka noted that Governor Soludo had accused Ndigbo of being the men behind the mask, hence the "unknown gunmen" ravaging Anambra State.
Soludo spoke last Sunday during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, as he insisted that those perpetrating criminalities in the state were Igbos
In his words, Gov Soludo said: “Let me be clear about it, 100 per cent of the people we have caught are Igbo. There is no hoax that somebody is invading from somewhere. It is 100 per cent Igbo on Igbo."
However, this did not go down well with the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), the Apex Youth body of Igbo Youths who reacted vehemently to the unfounded allegations by the former CBN Governor.
To this effect, while addressing Newsmen at Awka over the weekend, the capital of Anambra State, the national President Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka described Gov. Charles Soludo as a "Mischievous Child" who could without batting an eye, engage in a rough play with the testicle of the father.
Comrade Igboayaka argued that insecurity had intensified with the emergence of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) administration of President Mohammadu Buhari while lamenting that the present federal government has been complacent about the spate of insecurity.
Igboayaka O Igboayaka criticised Gov Charles Soludo for making baseless accusations against his people thereby swiftly coming out publicly to tag them, criminals, unlike the Northern Governors whose States have been ravaged by terrorists.
He said: Insecurity in Nigeria has increased since 2015 at the emergence of President Mohammadu Buhari-led administration, yet the federal government has not done any ethnic profiling of those causing the problem.
"States like Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kastina, Niger, Borno, Yobe etc till today no Governor of the State has come out to state categorically that Boko Haram, Bandits and Kidnappers syndicates are Fulani, Hausa Nupe, Adara, Atyap, Aghan, Maro'a Waja or Tera Borgu, but unfortunately we have a mischievous child as a Governor who lacks knowledge of information management and barely 12 months as Governor already knows that criminality in Anambra is committed by Ndigbo.
"No Governor in Northern Nigeria has done the ethnic profiling that Boko Haram, Bandits and Kidnappers syndicates are a particular tribe, but Gov. Charles Soludo has become the first Governor that has done ethnic profiling on criminality and banditry in Nigeria, this is laughable and shame to someone who attaches "Professor" in his title.
Furthermore, the Igbo Youth leader Comrade Igboayaka pointed out that crime profiling ought not to be done ethnically but rather individually, as he recounted that "on December 27, 2017, there was a jailbreak at Ikot Ekpene and 47 inmates escaped, Gov. Godwin Akpadio didn't tell the world that it was "Ndi Calabar" or Ndi Oron that was behind the criminal act. Also, on September 3, 2015 - the Sokoto Remand Home break took place yet Gov. Aminu Tambuwal didn't tell the world that it was carried out by Fulani or Hausa, on October 19, 2020 - Oko Prison in Edo, was attacked, again on October 21, 2020 - Benin Prison break took place and 1,993 inmates escaped from the two facilities, yet Gov. Obaseki didn't tell the world that it was done by Urhobo, Benin or Isetkiri People.
"On September 13, 2021 - Kabba prison break, Kogi took place and 240 inmates were freed, yet Gov. Yahaya Bello didn't tell the world that it was done by Igala or Ebira people. On October 22, 2021: Abolongo prison, Oyo break took place and 837 inmates escaped, yet Gov Seyi Makinde didn't tell the world that it was done by Yorubas.
"Charles Soludo should have known that crime profiling all over the state is done by individual identity, not by Ethnic identity, Soludo has goofed."
Comrade Igboayaka who described loquaciousness as poor quality of a good leader, charged Gov Soludo to show more dedication to the work he has been elected to execute, thus giving various parts of the state facelifts and exerting less energy on garrulity.
"Gov. Charles Soludo should do more work and talk less, as talkativeness is not an attribute of a leader. He must employ a good media guru for public speech or he may plunge Anambra into a big mess with his overzealous and inexperience, Igboayaka noted.
He, therefore, urged the Governor to immediately retract his projective statement and tender an unreserved apology to the Igbo nation.
"Governor Charles Soludo should tender an unreserved apology for his derogatory statement against Ndigbo", Igboayaka concluded.
