Soludo: South-east needs Nigeria … I don’t support separatist agitation

Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, says he does not support separatist agitation in the south-east and believes the region’s development is tied to its continued unity with Nigeria.

Speaking on ‘Sunday Politics’, a Channels Television programme, Soludo said while he respects the right to peaceful protest, he does not share Nnamdi Kanu’s secessionist vision for the Igbo nation.

He added that the sit-at-home directive has largely faded in Anambra, adding that residents now go about their normal businesses.

“We’ve made it very clear that if you are protesting or agitating for anything, you are holding yourself down by killing your own people under the pretext of Monday’s sit-at-home,” Soludo said.

“Anybody sitting at home now is doing so out of his own preference, not because of insecurity, as it were, because everywhere is secure on Mondays.”

The governor noted that Kanu and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have already disowned the sit-at-home order, blaming criminal groups for exploiting it to terrorise residents.

“Even Nnamdi Kanu himself and his IPOB are on record to have said they did not support the Monday sit-at-home; it was some criminal elements doing that. And we thank them for their word,” he said.

Soludo also said his administration’s focus is on governance and delivering results, not activism.

“As for those who are agitating or going to have demonstrations, they have a right to do so,” he said.

“In a democracy, everybody has freedom of expression. But mine is to govern. While social activists to their job, I will do my own.”

The governor said he had earlier urged Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other regional leaders to engage Kanu in dialogue once he is released.

He added that no one person holds a monopoly of ideas about the region’s future.

“I said, why don’t they tell Nnamdi Kanu to come and sit with everybody else, because nobody has a greater right than the other? We are all Igbos, and we are all entitled to our views,” he said.

Soludo restated his belief in a united Nigeria, describing the Igbo as a people whose strength and prosperity depend on co-existence.

“I am of the view that the Igbo man needs Nigeria and Nigeria needs the Igbo man,” the Anambra governor said.

“The Igbo man needs Africa, and Africa needs the Igbo man. We are an itinerant people who cannot afford to be intolerant. That’s my view.”

He added that Nigeria’s diversity is by divine design and must be harnessed for national growth.

“Do we need Nigeria? Absolutely! And Nigeria needs us. That is my very deep belief,” Soludo said.

“I canvass it with no apologies and hold on to that. I’m prepared to debate this with anyone on the future prosperity of the Igbos.”

Soludo’s comments come amid growing calls for the release of Kanu, the IPOB leader, with opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar and Omoyele Sowore mobilising for a peaceful protest tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, scheduled for October 20 in Abuja.

Kanu, the IPOB leader, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in June 2021.