By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
The controversy, anger and hard feelings sparked by the comments of Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on the former governor of the state and current presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, have not been quelled yet.
On the contrary, Soludo’s comment still provokes angry reactions from Nigerians, especially those of South-Eastern extraction, most of whom have hit back at Soludo.
The latest backlash is coming from some Igbos residing in Rivers State who feel disappointed by the Anambra governor’s remark on Peter Obi.
Baring his mind to our reporter on Saturday in Port Harcourt, an engineer from Imo State, Ken Eze, described Prof. Soludo’s remark on Peter Obi as unnecessary.
Engr Eze said: “Soludo’s statement on Obi was uncalled for. When I read, I felt apprehensive. Though he made some good points, must he wash their dirty linen in public? If I say somebody won’t succeed in a project he wants to embark on – it will be construed as jealousy.
“Even if I’m not jealous but only stated the obvious, maybe after analysing facts on the ground, as Soludo may have done, people will still believe that I’m jealous of that person. Many people, especially in the southeast, now believe he’s jealous of Obi.
“Peter Obi is his brother and former governor. And he did well as a governor and handed over toObiano. If there’s anybody who should fault Peter Obi in terms of how he governed Anambra, it should be Obiano, not Soludo. And to the best of my knowledge, Obiano didn’t do that, which is a confirmation that Obi did well. So, on what basis is Soludo saying those things about Obi in public?
“That’s why the general opinion of our people now is that Soludo is jealous of Obi because of the wide acceptance and support he’s getting across Nigeria since he emerged as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.”
On whether he has any advice for Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the engineer said: “My only advice to him is to withdraw the statement, especially the one he said that Obi would not win. That is the one that is making people angry. Many Igbos and well-meaning Nigerians are not happy about it. He should withdraw it immediately to change the general opinion about him. In Imo, many are unhappy that he published such a letter openly. I was there two days ago and heard what some of them were saying.”
A businessman, Chief Uzondu Akachi, also condemned Soludo’s statements about Peter Obi.
He said the statement had earned the former CBN governor a bad name among many Igbos.
“Soludo may lose his respect soon. He should not have said that Peter Obi would not win. What concerns him with Peter Obi’s presidential campaign? I know he is trying to direct the Igbos to take the right path in politics, but even if Obi did not listen to him, he should not say that he knows he will not win. People will think he is trying to pull his brother down. He can even tell him that in secret, not in the open. He is a professor we all respect. That is why he should avoid saying certain things.
“Nigerians are praying that God should deliver the country because they are tired of the way things are. And people are now seeing that Obi is better than the other candidates in terms of integrity, vision, experience, economic ideas and freshness, and that’s why many are supporting him, even members of other parties.
“Like me, I am not a member of the Labour Party but am supporting Obi for president. Why? Because I want a better Nigeria where our children’s future will be bright. So, if Nigerians are praying and ready to work for Obi’s victory, why should Soludo be the one to attack him? Kwankwaso is contesting. Can his governor say he can’t win Atiku?”
Chief Akachi called on Igbos to settle the quarrel between Governor Soludo and Peter Obi.
“Ndigbo should settle this war between Obi and Soludo. I know that Obi has replied to him, saying that they are not quarrelling, but something may be wrong somewhere,” the Abia State-born businessman said.
However, a pastor and private school proprietor in one of the communities in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Andrew Ejezie, read spiritual meaning into Governor Soludo’s action, saying it is a fulfilment of scripture. Pastor Ejezie, who hails from Anambra State, said: “I wasn’t surprised when I heard what my governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, said.
As a pastor and student of the Bible, I know it’s nothing but a fulfilment of scripture. You see, the Bible says that a prophet is not without honour except in his hometown. That was the master talking.
“Again, he said that a man’s enemies shall be members of his household. What does it tell you? It simply means that outsiders, strangers, may respect you and wish you well in your mission, but your people, sometimes your blood relatives and friends, will be against you and work against you. That is exactly what happens between Peter Obi and Soludo, who are supposed to be his governor and brother. That’s why I said I was not surprised.
“But I thank God that Peter Obi has publicly declared that Soludo is his brother and he has nothing against him. Soludo has also said that he has supported Peter Obi and even prayed for him. That is what we expect from them. They should work together to achieve common goals because God, who put them in these positions, is not a fool. God bless Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said his principal stands by his comments on the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Soludo had dismissed the chances of the Labour Party flag bearer in the coming presidential poll and criticised the style of Ndigbo in its quest for the country’s number one seat in an article titled, ‘History Beckons And I Will Not Be Silent.’
The article has been drawing mixed reactions across the country, particularly on social media, where Soludo was heavily criticised.
Obi ruled Anambra between 2006 and 2014 on the All Progressives Grand Alliance platform before he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party and, later, Labour Party.
But speaking on the criticisms generated by the article, the aide of the former Central Bank Governor maintained that Soludo had the right to his opinion.
