By Tony Adibe
The Emeritus Professor T. Uzodimma Nwala has advised the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, to redirect his energy in a more positive and productive direction rather than dissipating it over needless attacks on his brother, Mr. Peter Obi, the NDC Presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2027 elections.
Nwala, the popular former university don, was reacting to the ongoing verbal attacks between Soludo and Obi, including the recent Soludo versus Senator Uche Ekwunife tantrums.
In a statement issued on his official X account tagged, “For The Records! Igbo Bu Igbo, Giwa Nwannegi Eziokwu” (Translated: Igbo, Tell Your Brother The Truth), the pioneer Professor of African Philosophy, Nwala, who acknowledged that both Soludo and Obi were his students at the university, said he wished Soludo could unwind and assert his energy in a different and more positive direction.
“I am not comfortable with Prof Soludo’s posture towards his brother Mr Peter Obi. I am not aware of any similar hostile public attitude of Mr Obi towards him – Prof Soludo”, said Nwala, who was former founding President General of Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), a pan-Igbo pressure group said in the statement.
“The statement stated thus: “I wish Prof Charles Soludo would unwind and assert his energy in a different and more positive direction. The question is not how we made him, because he knows how he was made. The question is that Peter Obi’s path does not need to cross his own if he has enough intellectual and moral Self-Confidence!
“After Soludo won the Anambra Governorship election, I immediately went to his house in Enugu in the company of some members of the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) to make one request of him. I requested him to assure me of one thing. And what was it? That he, Prof. Soludo, will not engage in any political attack on Gov. Peter Obi.
“I told him that both of them could adequately advance the cause of their respective parties without attacking each other.
“I am not comfortable with Prof Soludo’s posture towards his brother Mr Peter Obi. I am not aware of any similar hostile public attitude of Mr Obi towards him* – Prof Soludo.
“I am in the habit of counseling my brothers and ex-students – when they are in rival political parties –
“When our brother Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa was contesting for the Presidency at the same time *Mr Peter Obi* was also in the race, I invited both of them to Mr Peter OBI’s house in Ikoyi and requested both of them to give me an undertaking that they will not attack each other during their campaigns. Both of them did, and each kept his word.
“I don’t see why Prof. Soludo cannot show more maturity and self-confidence!
“He is a very brilliant intellectual, but he needs to show more political self-confidence.
“I travelled through Enugu-Onitsha Road on my way to Asaba last week. I saw APGA campaign posters with Gov. Soludo and President Tinubu on the same poster; I did not see that of him and late Ikemba Nnewi, General Odumegwu Ojukwu. For me, it was odd, and I blame the political Advisers of these my former students for some clumsy politicking!
“Even the ongoing brickbat between Gov. Soludo’s family and Uche Ekwunife’s is uncalled for. I keep asking where the Advisers of these, my friends and former students. They are all very great materials in the struggle for Igbo political survival and resurgence!
“I wish “The Boy is Good” Mbazulike Amaechi and Ikenga Nnewi Dozie Ikedife were around to join me in talking to these our young brothers in the forefront of Igbo political struggles to remind them that Alaigbo is under great siege. And that if they cannot make Igbo Political and Economic Resurgence their priority, they should consider themselves political tragedies for Ndigbo!
Thanks,
“Emeritus Professor
- Uzodinma Nwala, Ikenga & Ezeji Mbaise”
