Soludo Under Fire Over Sack Of Vendors, Destruction Of Newspapers

A group, Forum of Labour Party 2023 House of Assembly candidates, has berated Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo over what it described as dictatorial’ tendencies of his two-years administration.

The group, in a statement by its spokesperson, Hon. Humphrey Iloh, advised Soludo’s  administration to desist from further humiliating, intimidating, impoverishing and killing of people of the State.

It said the advice followed recent destruction of newspaper stands and beating of newspaper vendors in Awka as well as alleged brutal killing of one Mr. Arinze Obuladike, at Ogbo-ogwu, Onitsha by Special Anambra State Anti-Touting Squad (SASA).

The group threatened to compel the House of Assembly to commence impeachment process on the Governor if the ugly trend continues.

The statement reads: “We the members of the Forum Of Labour Party 2023 House of Assembly Candidates condemn in its entirety these double tragic and unfortunate acts by Prof. Soludo-led Government and other previous actions, which is a clear indication that Anambra State is now under a DICTATORIAL REGIME.

“The Anambra State of today was not the friendly and peaceful Anambra that the previous Governments left for Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

“His current style of governance is totally against Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which declares that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of Government.

“We advise the Soludo-led Government to desist from further humiliating, Intimidating, Impoverishing and Killing of Ndi-Anambra.

“Otherwise, we would be left with no option than to approach the court and seek for an Order to compel the House of Assembly to commence impeachment process on the Governor, to rescue Ndi-Anambra from this Dictatorial regime.”

Reacting, spokesman for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Tony Olisa, dismissed the allegations as fallacious and targeted at discrediting Soludo-led administration.

“The claims of the destruction of newspaper stands and beating of vendors in Awka on February 15, 2024, are entirely false. Our government upholds the freedom of the press and respects the rights of all individuals to conduct their businesses without fear of reprisal.

“The incident in Ogbo-ogwu, Onitsha, on February 16, 2024, involving the alleged killing of one Mr Arinze Obuladike by the Special Anambra State Anti-Touting Squad, is baseless. The SASA, which the Labour Party Forum acknowledged does not bear arms, couldn’t have shot a stray bullet killing the said drug dealer.

“SASA operates within the confines of the law and does not engage in extrajudicial activities. The Labour Party Forum should desist from politicising the incident. We condemn the spread of misinformation and the attempt to discredit our government with unfounded allegations,” he said.