Anambra: Soludo escapes mob attack
By Chukwujekwu Ilozue and Emmanuel Nzomiwu

• Keep away, elders warn Anenih, others


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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governorship candidate in February 6,2010 election in Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, narrowly escaped being lynched on Saturday night in Agulu where he allegedly castigated Governor Peter Obi before his [Obi’s] own people.

This is coming on the heels of serious warnings issued by elders of Anambra State to former chairman of the PDP board of Trustees, Tony Anenih and other non-indigenes of Anambra State to steer clear of the governorship poll and let Anambra people choose their governor.

Soludo had arrived St. Peter’s field, Agulu, at about 7pm and was well received by people who were eager to hear from him why they should vote for him instead of their son and brother, Governor Peter Obi.

However, when Soludo began to speak, he asked Agulu people to weep for themselves because Governor Peter Obi was not a worthy son they could be proud of. He wanted to know what Obi had done for them since he became governor. Soludo asked them to vote for him so that “light will shine on them”, and they would see the difference.

But the crowd appeared infuriated on hearing that Agulu had no son they could be proud of in Governor Obi as they began to chant war songs, saying they would follow Obi wherever he led them.

At that point, some of the youths gathered behind the podium and hauled stones and other missiles on Soludo. They also blocked the exit to the field. Sensing that Soludo was facing imminent danger, his police orderlies circled him and hauled him into his jeep. They shot into the air to scare the youths and make way for his escape as the youth were by then in frenzy.

When asked for his reaction to the incident, former President- General of Agulu Patriotic Union, Anthony Oguejiofor, said he does not encourage violence coming from anybody. But he noted that Soludo was being childish and deliberately exposed himself to danger by castigating Obi even in his own town.

“When you look at it, did Soludo do well? Other candidates have been campaigning in Agulu and there has been no incident. People want to know what the candidates will do for them if they win the election, and not a castigation of their opponents. Even if Soludo made such remarks elsewhere other than Agulu, he has no justification. Tell the people what you will do for them that is all,” he declared

Oguejiofor advised candidates to approach the campaign with decorum, and engage on politics of issues and not of name calling.

Meanwhile, elders of Anambra State under the aegis of Anambra Elders Forum have warned that they would not condone any attempt by external forces to influence the result of the February 6, 2010 election.

The elders were apparently responding to a statement credited to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), chieftain from Edo State, Tony Anenih, and saying in the media that he would not mind to change his name in order to deliver his candidate in Anambra State.

Baring the minds of the Elders in an exclusive interview with Sunday Independent, former President- General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Acting Chairman of the Forum, Dr. Dozie Ikedife said that it sounds “inimical and criminal” for somebody from Edo State to change his name in order to influence the outcome of an election in Anambra State.

Ikedife, who reiterated the elders resolve to seek observer status for the February poll, noted that such an utterance did not bear any form of civility and therefore advised politicians in the country to play the game within their various constituencies.

According to him, there are many individuals in the race and many aspirants who are anxious to become governor of the state following the election of 2010, but only one person would be the governor.

His words: “The individuals may have their wishes but you know that God can’t grant the same wish to so many people. It will be one person at the end of the day. But what is uppermost in my mind is that we try to clean up the act of election rigging in Nigeria, starting with Anambra State. That is to say, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will do its duty and do it cleanly. The electorate will be given opportunity to cast their votes and the votes counted. If that is what we do for development of democracy in Nigeria, then I think that we should have contributed sufficiently and significantly.

“Then the candidates, some are good, some are better. Looking at their antecedents for example, Ngige is there, Ngige did very well when he was there as Governor. Peter Obi is doing well. There is need for continuity between these two gentlemen and perhaps the lady (Uche Ekwunife) and Charles Soludo, Andy Uba and Nicholas Ukachukwu, Nwosu, good luck to all of them.

“But people should play within their constituencies. For somebody to come from Edo State and want to change his name in other to change the result of the election, I think it is criminal, it is inimical. It is certainly not the civilized way. You want to change your name to influence the result as if the people in the state can’t write their names, they can’t make their choice.

“This meddlesomeness should be stopped. I seize this opportunity to warn people who are not from the state to keep away from the State politics. Rather than saying you want to change your name to influence the outcome of an election, it is unnecessary provocation, it is meddlesomeness, and it is unnecessary stirring the waters of Nigerian politics. Such people should be warned,” Ikedife stated.

Ikedife insisted that if INEC plays its role, the chances of people going to private houses to write election results would be minimized, stressing that INEC should ensure that voters register is displayed so that people know where they should vote and voting materials made available where they are wanted and on time and the personnel are there, fully equipped to do what they should do.
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This Soludo man is too arrogant. How dare he come to someone's backyard to insult him. I believe he will get the shock of his life on Feb 6th. Hopeless con man

Soludo is the kind of man we want to lead us in Anambra State.
We shall surely do our part and then hope for the best.

soludo is afool for making such remarks

asha 80:

soludo is a fool for making such remarks

Is it just for that remark alone? The man has been reckless with his mouth.

the truth is that soludo is not a politician and has started with the wrong click.
he is working with those top criminals that has destroyed the fate of nigeria hence ppl are looking at him as a top class criminal.
i will suggest he trade with caution.
escaping agulu ppl is just one escape out of a million.

asha 80:

soludo is afool for making such remarks

Arrrgghh!!!!