Sunday, November 01, 2009              

Pa Soludo's Abduction

Sir: I read with shock and utter dismay the kidnap of Pa Soludo, the father of the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor and a contender in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra state slated for February 2010.

While I have no political inclination, this act of violence is condemnable especially when it is visited on a senior citizen whose only sin is that he has a vibrant son in the person of Chukwuma Charles Soludo. It is not within the scope of this piece to judge whether his nomination for the PDP ticket is right or wrong, I must say that the perpetrators of this crime are cowards who lack the courage to use civilised means to obtain their right to justice.

Very recently I read about the failed attempt to kidnap the Obi of Onitsha, Prof. Alfred Achebe and I began to wonder where this country is heading to. It is unfortunate that a few rotten eggs are holding the state hostage. This is because we left undone for a very long time what we ought to have done. The machinery of state has proved insufficient to arrest this situation we find ourselves in. We must therefore arise as a people with a common destiny to protect our lives and the lives of our children. Who knows who will be next?

I want to call on all traditional institutions, age grades, market men and women, churches and the civil society in the state to resist this new wave of intimidation and utter disregard for the things that hold us together. It is a taboo and alien to our tradition to dishonour our elders.

To Chukwuma, I say be courageous, be vigilant for surely truth will triumph over falsehood and light over darkness. Don't be cajoled to give up. Your light is come and the glory of Anambra state is risen.

Ogochukwu Mgbeadichie (Mrs.),
Lagos.