Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has called on Igbo leaders and stakeholders to embrace dialogue, intellectual engagement, and constructive conversations when addressing issues affecting the South-East and the future of Ndigbo in Nigeria.
The governor made the appeal in Awka after watching a stage performance titled “The Tale of Two Nnamdis,” a production by students of the Theatre Arts and Film Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
Reacting to the themes explored in the play, Soludo expressed concern over what he described as the lack of structured discussions on the challenges facing the Igbo people, insisting that emotional reactions and prolonged agitations alone cannot provide lasting solutions.
According to him, the time has come for meaningful conversations backed by facts, ideas, and intellectual engagement rather than actions that could hurt the same people they are meant to protect.
The governor specifically criticised the prolonged sit-at-home protests that affected economic and social activities in the South-East for several years, arguing that such measures often inflicted hardship on ordinary citizens.
Drawing from personal experience, Soludo reflected on the painful memories of the Nigerian civil war, revealing that his family suffered greatly during the conflict.
He disclosed that his mother died during the war, while his father lived with a bullet lodged in his body for over a decade after the conflict ended.
Despite those experiences, Soludo said he remains a proud Nigerian and a firm believer in peaceful coexistence, stressing that the prosperity of the Igbo people is closely tied to their engagement with the rest of the country.
“Ndigbo need Nigerians and Nigerians need Ndigbo. Our growth and prosperity will be faster when we take advantage of a larger national space,” he said.
The governor also urged Igbos to openly discuss what he described as contradictions in their political aspirations, particularly the desire to produce a Nigerian president while simultaneously questioning their place within the Nigerian federation.
According to him, clarity of purpose and a united position are essential if meaningful progress is to be achieved.
Soludo praised the political legacy of Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, describing him as a master of negotiation and political bargaining.
He argued that dialogue, compromise, and strategic engagement remain more effective tools for achieving political goals than confrontation.
The governor further revealed that he is willing to engage in structured discussions with all groups, including factions linked to self-determination movements, provided such engagements remain peaceful and focused on finding solutions.
He maintained that any organisation committed to promoting constructive dialogue on the future of the Igbo people would receive his support.
“You cannot force your way through a republican people. You must engage, persuade, and build consensus,” Soludo added.
His remarks have reignited conversations about the future of the South-East, the place of Ndigbo in national politics, and the best approach to addressing long-standing concerns within the region.
