Soludo to Tinubu: Release Nnamdi Kanu after your inauguration

By Pamela Eboh Awka

 

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has called on Nigeria’s President elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the leader of the Indegenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately after his swearing-in, if he is not released before then.

 

He said that Kanu is needed around the table as an important stakeholder in discussions about healing and sustainable peace in the South East.

 

Soludo in a press statement tagged, “the Conclusion of the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria, described elections in Anambra as generally peaceful, even as he hailed all the participants, the security agencies, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the citizens.

 

According to him, the true heroes of the  elections are the citizens of Nigeria, especially the youths, who he said their  voices will continue to be critical as the citizens collectively strive to build a new Nigeria.

 

He said, “Nigeria is the winner, and I am confident that a better future lies ahead of us. Congratulations to all Nigerians

 

“While we commend INEC for the successful completion of the general elections, it is important to note that we must seriously continue to reform and strengthen our electoral processes and citizens’ political participation as we march towards a more perfect system.

 

“Let me also congratulate the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his election. We congratulate your closest opponents for their courageous and impressive outing.

 

“Nigeria needs healing and restructuring, and the fundamental challenges of insecurity and the economy remain humongous.”

 

While pledging to collaborate and partner with the President-elect, the Federal Government for the development of Anambra state and Nigeria, the governor added, “This is the only country that we call ours and we must make it work.

 

“One critical issue that we must draw your urgent attention is the issue of systemic insecurity in the South East. While our efforts with the security agencies are yielding significant results, we believe that sustainable peace and security will be enhanced through wider non-kinetic engagements with all critical stakeholders.

 

“In this regard, may I repeat my previous calls and hereby request our President-Elect to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately after swearing-in (that is, if he is not released before then).  We need him around the table as an important stakeholder in discussions about healing and sustainable peace in the South East.

 

“To our newly elected colleagues (Governors-Elect), we say a big congratulation. Let us work together, especially under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) in pursuit of national common good.

 

“We also congratulate the elected members of the National and State Assemblies. We also thank millions of Nigerians who voted for candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) across the entire country.”

 

Soludo noted that APGA has made modest gains by winning seats at the Senate, House of Representatives and State Assemblies across the country, while the party is reformed and strengthened.

 

He said that APGA will continue to present its social-progressive agenda as the roadmap for the country as true believers in the potentials of Nigeria, adding that the party will continue to network and collaborate with all like-minded Nigerians and groups to advance the greatness of Nigeria.

 

While thanking God almighty for His unfailing love and grace, he expressed  gratitude to all the stakeholders in the Anambra project— the hardworking indigenes and residents of Anambra, the church, traditional rulers, ASATU, youths.

 

He also thanked women organizations, traders, transporters, businessmen and women, professionals, captains of industry, CSOs, etc for their faith and continued support to his government and APGA in the state.

 

The governor said they have demonstrated once again that Anambra is truly APGA-land, saying that despite the heat of the moment, the sophisticated Anambra electorate still delivered an emphatic vote of confidence with APGA winning majority in the Anambra State House of Assembly.

 

He said, “We will never take your support for granted, and will continue to work every minute of the day to justify your confidence on us.

 

“So far, winners have been declared, and those who are dissatisfied with the results have their rights to pursue their grievances through the due process of the law.

 

“My own political party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, might challenge several of the results in pursuit of justice. While we will take all necessary legal steps to recover the seats we believe that APGA won especially in Anambra state but were mistakenly called for other parties,

 

“We also know that several of the announced “winners” from other parties are “APGA-nized” and are patriotic citizens of the State.

 

“We therefore expect a progressive House of Assembly that will partner with us to continue the transformation agenda. I hereby extend my hands of fellowship to the elected members of the State and National Assemblies from other political parties in Anambra State.

 

“Let us work together for the greatness of our dear state. Elections and partisan politics are over, and we should all now focus 100% of our time on delivering good governance to our people.

May Anambra State and Nigeria win always!”

Meanwhile, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’, of Anambra  State, has commiserated with victims of Onitsha Main market fire victims who lost their wares worth millions of naira in the wee hours of Tuesday.

 

The Governor who was ably represented by his Deputy, His Excellency Onyeka Ibezim, urged the victims to take heart pointing out that Government would look into the loss with a view to knowing how to assist them.

 

He said the essence of his mission was to know the extent of loss and how to assist even as he described the inferno as unfortunate.

 

In his response, the chairman of the market, Chief Innocent Ezeoha, attributed the cause of the fire to power source,  which started in the first floor of the two storey building..

 

According to him, “The inferno started at about 4.00am, gutted a two storey building housing the Onitsha Main Market Police block, Onitsha North Local Government market office in the market, warehouses, shops and wares estimated into millions of naira.

 

“The wares, furniture, and all that were in the said places were burnt into ashes as a result of delay by the fire service men to come to the rescue despite the fact that the fire service men do not have any truck in the market as the one they have are grounded

 

“It was on a tip-off that I was told about the fire that started about 4.00am this morning and I have to rush. Damages have been done to the police block, Onitsha North Local Government market office, warehouses, shops, and even fire service office was touched by the time rescue teams came from the fire service Awka and Asaba, Delta State,” he further stated