Emmanuel ClementÂ
The Eastern Union, Nigeria, has called for urgent sanction of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, over what it described as his persistent, unjustifiable attacks on former Anambra Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi.
In a press statement issued on Friday and signed by its National President, Hon. Charles Anike C., the group said Soludo’s actions have become scandalous, dangerous and damaging to the collective Igbo identity.
The Union accused the governor of crossing the red line, warning that if not checked, he may escalate his actions in a deliberate plot to frustrate Obi’s chances in the 2027 presidential election.
“We call on all sons and daughters of Igbo extraction and every reasonable voice of reason to call Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo to order over his unrelenting and unjustifiable attacks on Mr. Peter Gregory Obi,” the statement said.
According to the group, Soludo’s conduct is reinforcing the negative stereotype that ‘Igbos don’t love themselves.’
“Soludo, by his actions, is confirming the popular belief that ‘Igbos don’t love themselves’. And we have just folded our hands and watched our innocent brother being persecuted and dragged in the mud by someone who is merely jealous and envious of great achievements and divine grace,” Anike said.
The Eastern Union said Soludo has failed to realize that political success is divinely ordained, quoting that “the race of this world is not to him that willeth, but of God that showeth mercy.”
It also questioned the motive behind the governor’s repeated attacks, noting that no such record exists in the South-East or other parts of the country where a sitting governor constantly attacks his predecessor, particularly one who is not even his direct predecessor.
“The greed for power and inordinate ambition of Prof. Soludo is getting out of hand and becoming increasingly unacceptable. The governor has over the years continued to carry out a campaign of calumny against Obi at any given opportunity, even when by divine providence, the more he tries to de-market Obi, the more the good people of Anambra continue to love him,” the statement added.
The group queried why Soludo cannot leave Obi alone and focus on governance, which it claimed his administration has dragged backwards.
Citing the famous quote that “the only condition necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” the Union said Ndigbo can no longer remain silent while attempts are made to run down Obi and destroy Igbo chances of producing the next president to succeed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“At this stage, the only way forward is for Ndigbo as a whole and Ndi Anambra in particular to sanction the saboteur governor,” it declared.
Drawing a comparison with the North, the group noted that no governor or prominent political figure in the entire North is publicly dragging former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, despite what it described as his monumental and scandalous sins and corrupt records.
The Union lamented what it called a growing culture of betrayal among Ndigbo, stating that history shows Ndigbo do not tolerate betrayal and evil, but recent indifference has emboldened such acts. It cited the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as an example of consequences of such tolerance.
“It is obvious that inglorious acculturation has taken place and is still ongoing. A lifestyle of betrayal is alien to Ndigbo. A lot of alien cultures and lifestyles have taken hold on our people due to our wide travels. But there must be limits to what we tolerate and allow as a people, if we must make progress,” the statement said.
The Eastern Union therefore called on the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the Igbo Youth Movement, and all Igbo organizations and reasonable voices to rise to the occasion and sanction Governor Soludo.
It said such action would help sanitize Igbo society and serve as a deterrent to others, while stressing that Soludo is free to support any candidate of his choice but should stop attacking and distracting Obi.
“We must not allow any of our prodigal sons or daughters to destroy our collective efforts,” Hon. Anike concluded.
