By Polycarp Onwubiko
It is incontrovertible to assert that the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has never hidden his mindset to change the narrative of governance in Anambra State, in particular, and Nigeria in general.
An analytical observation of
his governance template so far has indicated that Nigeria can effectively
tackle the ever-eluding "National Question": overlooking the
primordial sentiments of ethnicity, religion, and geographic regions to build a
"Nation" where there is justice, equity, equality of opportunity,
competency in public administration, and a fair political party selection process
towards general elections.
The visual evidence of Governor
Soludo's single-minded demonstration of the possibility of the ever-eluding
unity of Nigeria and embracing the philosophy of "Anambra State is home
for all" by Dr. C. P. Ezeife, the first civilian Governor of Anambra
State, was evident in Soludo's initial employment strategies in the critical
sectors of education and healthcare delivery. He opened vacancies to Nigerians
who could perform exceptionally in competitive examinations.
Anambra State youths might have initially resisted this radical step, but youths from other states who performed well and received employment letters couldn't believe their luck, as their states had never taken such a cosmopolitan outlook in public administration. One can describe this noble gesture as a revolutionary step towards the unity of Nigeria.
In the selection of the team
for the "Truth, Justice, Peace Commission (TJPC)," Governor Soludo
again demonstrated his commitment to competency across all areas of his
administration. The Chairman of the 17-man TJPC, Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu,
hails from Imo State—a legal luminary known for his versatility as a lecturer,
member of notable international institutions, and a columnist in prestigious
newspapers like The Guardian and Vanguard. Other outstanding members include
Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, the wife of the founder of APGA, and Monsignor
Jerome Madueke, Hon. Commissioner for Information, Ebonyi State, Mr. John Otu,
among others.
The TJPC, inaugurated on June
23, 2022, was mandated to thoroughly examine the "remote and
immediate" causes of serial violence and killings in communities, youth
restiveness in urban and hinterlands, and the exuberant quest for
self-determination in the Southeast Geopolitical zone. Governor Soludo's
primary concern is to create a serene environment in the state to pursue and
achieve his development agenda for the state and the Geopolitical zone. The
five Igbo Governors in the Geopolitical zone need a peaceful ambiance to
articulate their socioeconomic growth and development plans.
With determination, the TJPC
submitted an "Interim Report" to Governor Soludo in February of this
year, addressing the time-honored gargantuan task of dealing with violence,
killings, and agitations in the volatile Southeast geopolitical zone. Soludo
commended the Commission and other partners, including the United Nations
Development Programme, for their efforts in distinguishing agitation from
wanton criminality.
Governor Soludo's "Truth,
Justice, Peace Commission (TJPC)" is the first of its kind, a civilized
and refined model that other state Governors should adopt to address the deep
yearnings and aspirations of their people in deep privation and agony. This
approach aims to assuage the deep-seated grievances resulting from unspeakable
iniquities, atrocities, and mindless monstrosities perpetrated by State and
Non-State Actors.
The TJPC, led by Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu and a team of carefully selected great minds, is conducting a thorough examination of the remote and proximate causes of resentment, grievances, and injustices in Anambra State, with a deep passion and assurance to reconcile aggrieved individuals, groups, and organizations.
By the grace of God, the
indomitable team of TJPC will provide pragmatic roadmaps and recommendations to
Governor Soludo to make Anambra State a livable and civilized environment for
sustainable socioeconomic growth and development.
Polycarp Onwubiko, JP, Author,
and Public Policy Analyst.
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