Igbo Corner
More Nigerians knock Soludo over anti-Peter Obi tirades
More Nigerians have expressed serious consternation over the tirades against the former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi, who is presently the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2023 presidential election, by the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
Governor Soludo, a professor of economics, had, during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, said that Peter Obi’s “saving template” is useless and that investments by Peter Obi are worthless.
He further made disparaging remarks about Peter Obi, and according to him, it is useless saving money when people are dying in the hospitals, adding that the investments Peter Obi made, who is considered the best Governor to emerge in modern Nigeria, are next to nothing.
Reacting, an observer stated: “I will quickly respond to these 2 weighty issues made by Soludo.
“Before PO came into office, no hospital in Anambra had ANY accreditation. Due to PO investments in health, 10 hospitals (govt and mission owned) were accredited for Nursing and Midwifery. Obi also built a brand-new Teaching Hospital that was equally accredited. Soludo did not see this and people are dying in the hospitals because PO is saving.
“I hope Soludo knows PO investment in Interfact Breweries is not the ONLY investment. Just for clarity purpose, Interfact Breweries today is now a Multinational Corporation, initially a subsidiary of SABMiller and now AB InBev, the largest brewery in the World. Anambra State Ministry of Finance has 4.7% stake of AB InBev in Nigeria, which Soludo was referring to as worthless.
“Yes, the stock value may have fallen, no thanks to Buhari genius, but according to the last financial release, the total assets of AB InBev is 372 billion Naira, which are worthless according to Soludo.
“AB InBev, a multinational company that remits millions in PAYE to State Government and Company Income Tax to Fed Government year-in year-out is worthless according to Soludo.
“A company that has added identity to the SE and paid millions to South easterners, such as Illbliss, Zoro, PSquare, Osuofia and co as well as contributed to the entertainment industry is worthless according to Soludo. A company that has employed thousands in direct labour and more indirectly is worthless according to Soludo.
“I hope Soludo also know that PO invested heavily in infrastructure in the Harbour Industry Estate/Layout in Onitsha, that is located in between the first and second Niger Bridges. That is what Soludo said is worthless.
“The Harbour Industry Estate now has over 30 functioning companies impacting positively in jobs creation and revenue to Anambra and Soludo said the infrastructural investments in this area are worthless.
“I hope Soludo knows PO made investments in the Orient Petroleum Industries, which has made Anambra to be an oil producing State.
“In June this year, Anambra received 268 million naira as first payment based on 13% derivation from the Federal Government and will continue to do so, except oil exploration stops, but our Prof of Economics says the investments in Orient Petroleum Industries are worthless.
“Apart from direct investments, PO also contributed to the attraction of several industries, which Anambra is benefitting from, for example Innoson Motors and Juhel. Let me stop here for now.
“Soludo appears to have issues with PO, be it jealousy or whatever. But, as a governor and if he has problems with the current state of Anambra, he should first bare his fangs on Obiano, his immediate past predecessor before Obi. He may as well continue to find faults up to Ngige and Mbadinuju.
Soludo’s quick was to attack PO but dodged to comment on the redesigning of the Naira by the CBN when asked in the same interview says a lot about him and his character.
“Before we forget, Soludo was among those that campaigned for Buhari, whose genius has affected Nigeria businesses and billionaires, including Anambra State investments.
“I will end this piece with a quote from Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: “There is definitely an issue of character with Prof. Soludo and his desperate search for power and relevance in Nigeria. Nigerians should, therefore, beware of so-called intellectuals without character and wisdom because this combination is fatal”.”
Human Rightsactivist, Comrade Paul Njoku noted:
“Soludo is simply jealous of Peter Obi and he is working for his boss Atiku.
“Peter Obi’s national acceptance has been given Soludo and some of disgruntled political elements of South East extraction sleepless nights.
“Peter Obi will win and they will all hide their faces in shame.”
He added: “This remark by Soludo is very uncomplimentary, unfriendly, rash, unnecessarily combative and negatively reflects on his person and character.
“This was the mentality he brought to CBN that destroyed so many poor people, one of the reasons that led to the conspiracy against his second tenure at the CBN and finally explains why Anambra people didn’t want him as governor for so many years after leaving CBN. Learn to be humble and respect others.”
A pundit made the following observation:
“Again, I reiterate that this is the “nshikòr mentality” that is presently destroying Igbo political leadership…
“They’re all like crabs (nshikòr) in an uncovered bucket desperate to climb out, but pitifully unable to…as they all only succeed in pulling themselves down.
“Soludo, a pseudo intellectual, yes… purely out of spite and pettiness… wrote and pontificated a lot on economic management under GEJ/NOI… but became scandalously mute and seemingly threw his pen away upon Buhari’s arrival with his scorched earth economic illiteracy in Nigeria.
“To perhaps grudgingly compensate Soludo for his dirty job and for keeping his arrogant mouth shut to the then burgeoning Economic nightmare under Buhari, he was compensated with membership of the Buhari Economic Advisory Council…
“Soludo, struggled to contain the embarrassment and shock to his huge Ego at having to serve under the chairmanship of another economist in the advisory council, couldn’t of course complain nor honourably resign the tokenist appointment… all in the now realised hope that Buhari would allow him become Governor of Anambra State.
“Well, we will not hold Soludo, an Economic Adviser to Buhari, responsible for Buhari’s superintendence over the monumental economic meltdown and failures of the current government… just as we will equally not blame him for Emefiele’s ongoing rascality at the CBN… which he, Soludo, strangely refrained from commenting on.
“But he was happy to gleefully ridicule his own brother and predecessor as governor… in a brazen display of dark and mischievous abnegation and eschewal of Obi’s achievements as Governor. That is an nshikòr at work!
“In the fullness of time, Soludo’s hubris, arrogance and inordinate ambition will expose and humble him, inevitably!”
A seasoned banker, Mr. Anayo Nwosu, Ikenga Ezenwegbu, contributed:
“Let’s not throw away the baby with the birth water. Prof. was misdirected by envy and jealousy. He thought he was smart but we decoded his mischievous shots.
“He did the same to Jonathan in 2015-2015 to help Atiku-Tinubu-Buhari’s APC to win. He would be shocked by the reactions of people of all political persuasions all over the world.
“He would be so shocked by the cold shoulders he will be receiving from even his commissioners and family members. He might be thinking that he won the governorship election by himself.
“He benefited from grace but he wants to disgrace Peter Obi. They’re not gracemates. Omelu alu. Having said this, he has a job of governing Anambra cut out for him. He has the capacity.
“We shall judge him by his own performance. I’m sure he will soon apologize and make amends. Everything is not politics. He killed a fly atop the scrotum of his kinsman. Let’s focus on making Anambra liveable.”
Another contributor:
“We still have old members of Obiano’s Exco in his cabinet. They were members of the Investment Agency. All records are within.
“Something is not adding up. It’s really disheartening that our dear State is in a mess.”
Yet another: “Soludo is enjoying proceeds from Peter Obi’s investment. Yet he had the temerity to lie fantastically.”
A social media influencer, Mr. Kelechi Deca waxed poetical and went the line of the gods to narrate the unfortunate ordeal that will befall Soludo.
Mr. Deca wrote on his Facebook account: “Our ancestors say that “when a deity starts misbehaving, we will release his DNA result, by pointing out the tree from which it was carved from”. The Igbo are a unique people in that they have capacity to undeify a deity.”
Going further, Deca added: “The uniqueness of the Igbo culture and tradition is that they are the only people with documented evidence of sacking their gods.
“They wake up one morning, sound the gong and inform the god that his services are no more needed.
“Whenever they feel unsatisfied with the behaviour of any god, they gather at the shrine and with one voice, they downgrade its god status to a mere carved image.
“They start by first commencing a period of starvation of sacrifices and prayers, not even a piece of Kolanut would be dropped at the mention of its name.
“Then they will let everybody know whether it was carved from Iroko, Obeche or Oak tree. That is the last step of making it ordinary by withdrawing the awe and reverence associated with it.
“Then it would be removed from the shrine, and if that god is lucky to escape burning, it would be given to children to play with.
“We will activate each of these steps soonest. That’s why Achebe said that the Igbo fears neither man nor god,” he concluded. Read more.
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There’s something about persecution that does two things to a people: it either breaks them, or it makes them beasts of survival.
For centuries the Jews… they were hunted, hated, and humiliated by empires. But they didn’t vanish.
They evolved. They adapted. And today, the Jews are arguably the most powerful tribe in the world economically, intellectually, and politically. Ruthless when necessary.
They are unapologetic about their survival. Now, look at the Igbo. A tribe known for industry, resilience, and brilliance.
A people who just want to live, do business, and thrive. But Nigeria doesn’t want that. Nigeria wants control.
Nigeria wants submission. And the one thing the Igbo have never known how to do is bow. And that’s the real issue.
So what does Nigeria do? It sidelines them. Isolates them. Provokes them. Bombs their villages under the guise of security.
Locks up their agitators. Shuts down their businesses. Mocks their pain. Ignores their history. Prevent them from voting. Play politics with their education. Sponsored bigotry on them.
And then Nigeria pretends to be surprised that there’s growing radicalization in the East?
Let me be clear: The Igbo didn’t start this fire. Nigeria did.
And history, the very same history we keep refusing to learn from, has shown us that when you keep pushing a tribe that knows how to survive, they evolve into something stronger, something unstoppable.
It’s happened before. With the Jews. Europe tried to exterminate them. Instead, they became the backbone of global finance, media, tech, and diplomacy.
You don’t touch a Jew today without consequences. You don’t push them to the wall and expect them to stay quiet.
Now Nigeria is doing the same to the Igbo, pushing, prodding, provoking.
But here’s the warning: when you push an animal to the wall, it doesn’t stay calm. It fights back. It bites. And this time, when it bites, don’t act shocked.
But this isn’t just about the Igbo solely. Nigeria has perfected the art of creating monsters, then acting surprised when they bite.
The Niger Delta? Radicalized. The region was exploited for oil, polluted beyond repair, and ignored until their youths picked up arms.
The Fulani terrorists? Radicalized. Left behind by the same government that claimed to represent them, now manipulated by religion and resentment.
The Almajiri? Radicalized. Abandoned by an elite that used their poverty as a vote bank and then left them to rot.
The Agbero? Radicalized. Uneducated, weaponized, and unleashed as tools of political chaos.
Even the middle class is slowly being radicalized, not with guns, but with hopelessness. That, too, is a ticking time bomb.
A nation cannot continue to marginalize its most brilliant tribe and expect peace.
The Igbo are not docile. They are not quiet. They are not forgetful. They are survivors, and survivors don’t beg for space forever. At some point, they take it.
The Igbo didn’t set out to be radicals. They were made into one by a country that won’t stop seeing their confidence as a threat.
You can’t keep pretending unity means silence. You can’t keep preaching peace while planting injustice.
The Igbo are not asking for too much, they just want to live, build, and grow.
But if you insist on turning their dignity into defiance, their enterprise into enmity, and their survival into sedition, then you are creating a monster.
And if history has taught us anything, it’s this: when a persecuted people decide that survival is no longer enough, when they decide to stop running and start resisting, they don’t just fight back. They win.
Nigeria must understand this: you cannot keep pushing people into a corner and expect submission.
When you back a lion into a wall, don’t expect it to purr. It will roar. It will claw. It will tear through anything standing between it and freedom.
So here’s the final warning, for those who still care to listen: Nigeria is radicalizing the Igbo.
But worse, Nigeria is radicalizing everyone. And it won’t end well.
When the fire spreads, when the rebellion multiplies, when the beast we created begins to fight back, don’t act shocked; no tribe will be left untouched.
Don’t pretend it wasn’t preventable. We all made it happen. You don’t corner a lion and expect peace.
Abolaji Rasaq is a public affairs analyst.
Palpable crisis is brewing in Nnewi over the election of the President General of Uruagu Community in the industrial town of Anambra State, with a business mogul and owner of Organiser Plc., Chief Innocent Okoli, accused of upsetting the apple cart.
The crisis has led to protests and resignation of members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).
One of the resignation letters sighted by News Band was from a legal practitioner, J. N. Obi, Esq.
Barrister Obi, until his resignation served as the Secretary of the Executive Committee and member, Uruagu Board of Trustees.
Tendering his resignation letter, Obi cited brazen violation of the Constitution of Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union.
The letter was referenced OB/03 /296/2025, dated May 8, 2025, and addressed to His Highness. Obi A. C. Obi (Ogidi IV).
In the letter entitled “Letter of resignation as member, Board of Trustees (B.O. T) Uruagu Nnewi. Obi announced his resignation based on the following reasons:
- Article 8. 9 (a) of the Constitution of Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union. 2022 (As Amended) states and I quote:
“The Board shall “Ensure the observance of this Constitution”. - Article 14.4 of the Constitution of Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union 2022 (As Amended) states and I quote:
“Each ward shall submit a list of the Electors In writing to the Secretary General of the Union, one month before any election.
“The submission of the list of the Electors shall be done by the Ward Chairman In consultation with the Ward’s Obi.” - “The election sought to be conducted on Saturday, 10th day of May 2025, did not comply with the above provisious as it was on the Union’s general meeting of the I3th day of April 2025 that the expiration of the tenure of the Executives was announced.”
The legal pratictioner, however, noted that the election to be held on May 10 will not be up to one month.
He, therefore, resigned his membership of B. 0. T for failure to abide by the above provisions of the Constitution as stated above.
On his part, the former President General of Uruagu Nnewi, Chief Ambassador Charles Nwonye, decried series of illegalities in the proposed election championed by Chief Okoli.
He recalled the efforts of past and present stakeholders to ensure that Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union is recognised as a legal and responsible entity in the state.
He, however, speaking in a voice note obtained by Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), regretted:
“It’s very, very unfortunate that those counsels that instituted Uruagu Development Union are no longer alive.
“They were the ones who were known for speaking out the truth. But at the same time, we will not all keep quiet.
“I, hereby, wish to bring the following to the attention of all Uruagu indigenes, scattered all over Nigeria and in the diaspora that four years ago, a similar thing happened.
“Uruagu Nnewi Constitution was also flagrantly violated four years ago.
“At the end, a lot of stakeholders asked the former Executive Committee to resign and leave en masse.
“The Constitution, however, allowed them to recontest.
“The Executive Committee then honourably resigned and no one of us recontested, ushering in a new Executive Committee.
“They argued that following the election, the Constitution will be amended to correct all the flaws and ensure no such flagrant abused repeats itself.
“They went for the election and what happened there was the same illegality we’re talking about.
“Some of our youths went and connived with mischief makers, disrupted the election and declared the present Executive Committee members winners.
“The youths stood by them in their misguided thoughts that the Executive Committee members enjoy special gains in the office.
“They disrupted the election and ensured that the present crop of Executive Committee members was ushered in.
“The election was heavily flawed and rigged in favour of Eloka Ike and Innocent Okoli, but we let go and left peacefully.
“The new Executive Committee promised to preside for only four years and leave, but we are currently seeing the same illegalities.
“I dare ask: Should Uruagu be known only for illegalities? I thought Ndi Uruagu are smart people?
“I have observed that there are certain individuals who are hell-bent on ensuring that the Uruagu leadership fails.
“They seem bent on destroying all our efforts, acting as agents of chaos and destruction.
“How can one man gather a bunch of Umuezeagu indigenes and take them to the court, claiming that they sued the union to court?
“They deceived the High Court and got a frivolous injunction against Uruagu people, all in the name of election!
“When I got this information, I knew that something was wrong.
“How can someone, after serving a tenure fraught with irregularities, fight his way to a second tenure against the people’s wish?
“I want to make it clear to all the delegates in the so-called election that it will not be possible to make an illegality legal.
“Anyone who casts a vote in that sham election is an agent provocateur, as well as a villain.
“Let it be on record that I denounced the so-called election founded on illegality and fraud and all participants, be it a delegate or participant in any manner is an enemy of the people.”
Chief Okoli and other responsible people of Nnewi leadership could not be reached for comment at the moment of this publication.
More details will follow…
The remains of HRH Eze Stephen Nwabueze Ugorji, Orji Ukwu 1 of Lorji Nwekeukwu Autonomous Community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, will be laid to rest on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
The late Eze Ugorji will be buried in his palace at Orji Ukwu Estate, Lorji, following a Catholic funeral Mass at St. Andrews Catholic Church, Lorji.
News Band was informed that His Excellency the Catholic Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Bishop Okezuo Nwobi, has been invited to officiate at the ceremony.
Bishop Nwobi, it was learnt, has also accepted the family’s invitation to officiate at the funeral rites of the late grand traditional ruler.
This information was provided to members of the press in Owerri by the Opara Eze (First Son of the Eze), former Commissioner for Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs, Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji.
His Lordship Bishop Okezuo Nwobi, the Catholic Bishop of Ahiara Diocese (Mbaise) and Eze Nwabueze Ugorji’s First Son, Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji
“The family is grateful to His Lordship for granting us a rare request to officiate at a funeral on a Thursday,” Dr. Ugorji said.
“Our father will feel honored and appreciated because he was not just a devoted Catholic, he shouldered the building of the St. Andrews Catholic Church at Lorji until his death,” the former commissioner added.
Igbo Corner
EXCLUSIVE: Ngozi Orabueze dissolves Biafra Govt In Exile as Simon Ekpa may spend longer time in prison
Dr. Ngozi Orabueze has abruptly dissolved the Biafra Government In Exile following secret information that his former boss, Simon Ekpa may not be coming out from Finnish detention in a hurry.
News Band reported that Mrs. Orabueze, a former Chief of Staff to Mr Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Government In Exile, toppled his principal after he was thrown into prison for promoting violent agitation and terrorism in the Southeast of Nigeria.
Ekpa’s trial is scheduled to start in May 2025.
Ngozi, a former chairperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Atlanta, United States in a statement on Wednesday, announced the dissolution of Biafra Government In Exile.
She said all assets of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile and it’s affiliates shall be transferred to the secretary of the State of the United States of Biafra.
Orabueze also directed all officers of the former exile government to report to their counterpart with the United States of Biafra for reassignment.
The statement reads, “It is resolved that the Biafra Republic Government In Exile (BRGIE) is hereby dissolved as it’s reason for the existence has been superceded by the November 29, 2024 Declaration of the restoration of the Independent United States of Biafra
“All assets of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile and it’s affiliates(BRGIE corporation ID: D237527271) shall be transferred to the secretary of the State of the United States of Biafra.
“All officers of the former exile government shall report to their counterpart with the United States of Biafra for reassignment. All activities of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile shall cease as of February 15, 2025”.
Meanwhile, an insider source in the movement reliably told News Band that Ngozi decided to dissolve BRGIE after receiving intel that Simon Ekpa might spend longer time in prison.
The source also revealed that the Nigerian government is doing everything within it’s power to nail Simon Ekpa for all his atrocious acts in the SouthEast region.
So, the only way to keep the agitation going in the absence of Ekpa is to dissolve BRGIE.
“Yes, Ngozi Orabueze dissolved the Biafra Republic Government In Exile so as to be fully in charge of the assets belonging to the movement. With the way the Nigerian government is going about the case of Simon Ekpa, he may spend longer time in prison”, the source said.
Moreover, before now, Orabueze has been at war with some arrowheads of the separatist movement who refused to acknowledge her authority.
This however, has led to series of fights, accusation and counter accusations among the agitators.
We celebrate the life of Mrs. Roseline Udu Eze, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of strength.
Her unwavering love, kindness, and selflessness left an indelible mark on all who knew her.
Though we mourn her passing, we take solace in the legacy she leaves behind and the cherished memories we hold. Rest peacefully in the arms of the Lord, dear Roseline.
You will forever be missed.
May her soul rest in perfect peace.
Amen.
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