WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT SOLUDO AND UMEOJI FAMILY.

I think that this is not the best time for men of goodwill to keep silent on some of the information pushed out there on the internet by some people desperate to hoodwink the gullible public and create bad blood between the two of Aguata’s bests who are presently expressing their rights of aspirations to political office under the political party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

It is often said that elders should not be in the house while a goat delivers in the tethers hence my decision to react to a write up under the caption “Why is Chukwuma Soludo Jealous of Adaora Umeoji”? by one Uloka Chuks.

It is not in my character to join issues with every Dick and Harry on the social media, especially the hatchet writers masquerading as social media influencers. However, it is worrisome and very unfortunate that politicians that ought to see themselves as brothers have wittingly engaged and allowed some children born few years ago to invade the social media space and pour invectives on people old enough to be their fathers. The latest being the one under reference targeted at the reputation of no less a world class economist, former Apex bank governor, Prof. Cee Cee Soludo and hopefully the next executive governor our dear state, Anambra.

Back in 1983, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, then as an undergraduate of University of Nigeria Nsukka was the leader of a political group known as Ekwueme Movement – a youth wing of the group championing the ideas of the then vice president of Nigeria, Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

Dr. Alex Ekwueme, as at 1982 was uncomfortable that the opposition party in Anambra state then, the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) was controlling the government structures in his native Aguata Local Government area and Anambra state at large since being sworn in with president Shehu Shagari in October, 1, 1979.

By August 1983, just prelude to the 1983 general elections, Soludo along with some NPN stalwarts were mandated by Ekwueme to scout for someone who would be sponsored to take over the reign from the NPP in Aguata L.G.A. which then had Joe Muotolu of Ogboji town as the Executive Chairman of the local government council.

Soludo as the youth leader backed by some powerful and notable NPN stalwarts like Ozomma Chief Ezekeil Ubah (Isuofia), Chief Emma Anyaora (Ekwulobia), Engr. George Okoli (Oko), Chief Ezeanuna of Onitsha Travelers Hotel Ltd (Achina) and others, sought, went and discovered at Ezinifite, a retired school Principal of St. Peters Secondary School, Achina, by name Mr Andrew Umeoji who happened to be the father of the current member representing Aguata Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji (Oba-Aguata).

That was how the senior Umeoji was discovered, made the candidate of the then NPN, campaigned for by everybody including Soludo as the pivot of youths on contact and mobilization and he won the election as the Aguata Local Government area council Chairman in 1983 hence the birth of political achievements in Umeoji’s family till date.

Most of these facts might not be known to these children writing these gibberish on the internet today trying to pitch the families of both Umeoji and Soludo together. I doubt if my honorable member, Oba Aguata knew about this, lest he would have called these boys in his campaign organization to order.

In politics, it is often said that there should be no permanent enemy or friend, but some of these things that are written on the new media could be permanent scars in the minds of the people they were targeted at especially when facts are distorted with half-truths.

How I wish all these nonsense will be stopped for Soludo to emerge as Anambra state governor in Nov.6, 2021, then Oba should work harder to return to the House of Representatives.

If the presidency, according to zoning formula returns to the Southern Nigeria after Buhari, then, Soludo as sitting governor can then lobby for Umeoji to be elected as the Speaker of the Federal House, since he would be a three time-comer to the green chamber at the time.

This is the only way they will kill two birds with one stone for the good of Aguata and Anambra state in general.
All these casting of aspersions on our best brains in the name of media war are needless especially when we are aware that it will not change the outcome of the June 23rd,2021 primary election of their party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)

Uzochiwala Ifeanyi Ogwatta, writes from Ekwulobia, Anambra state.