Igbo youths under the aegis of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), the apex socio-cultural youth organization of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Coalition of South East Youths Leaders (COSEYL) and Igbo National Council (INC) have chided Anambra state governor, Charles Soludo for calling for the release of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
According to the groups, Governor Soludo’s call lack the merit of truthfulness.
The OYC, through its National President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, said the governor’s call was a mere political statement to excite people, noting that his words could not be taken seriously.
The President described it as an insult to Ndigbo and a mockery of the self-determination struggle by the IPOB.
According to him, the governor’s outburst was a mere show-up which lacked executive honour.
He said: “It’s not in the blood of an Igbo man to be a coward. If Soludo is not a coward, he could have respected his office and paid a special visit to President Mohammadu Buhari and demanded the release of Kanu like Chief Mbazulike Amaechi did.
“Soludo has demonstrated cowardice. Soludo could bring out his time and write a volume of pages about how Peter Obi will not make it for the Presidency, but he couldn’t make out the same time to write to Mr President why they should obey the court order and release Nnamdi Kanu.
“I am still waiting when the Anambra governor should show bravery like a man, put down in writing why Nnamdi Kanu should be released and summon the courage to visit President Buhari and secure the release of Kanu”, he added.
Similarly, COSEYL, picked holes in Soludo’s volunteering to surety the detained IPOB leader, saying the offer was not borne out of pure motive.
President General of COSEYL, Comrade Goodluck Ibe, said that the former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, boss only wanted to use Kanu to possibly launder his battered image following his recent unwarranted media attacks on the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi.
He argued that instead of volunteering to stand surety for Kanu, Soludo should rather be mounting pressure on the government to comply with the court judgements which ordered the unconditional release of the IPOB leader.
“The demand is not borne out of a genuine desire to defend Igbo interest but to enhance his political interest. Soludo just wants to use Nnamdi Kanu for political advantage and to launder his image”, he asserted.
On its part, Igbo National Council, INC, through its National President, Chilos Godsent, stated that Soludo was not sincere in his demand for the IPOB leader’s release.
According to INC, Soludo’s action was an attempt to repair his alleged battered image in Anambra State.
He stressed that Kanu had since been discharged and acquitted by a competent court and there was no need for anybody to beg for his release.
The pro-Igbo group said: “The INC views the demand as a political strategy for Soludo to regain his bartered political image and reputation.
“Nigerians will recall that Soludo has lost popularity and acceptance in his state and South East since his open opposition against the candidature of Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP.
“Soludo is not sincere. His call is part of his media populist strategy to deceive the Igbo Nation and Nigerians at large.”
