ANAMBRA State’s politics hit a higher note in violence last night when Pa Simeon Soludo, the 78-year old father of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, was kidnapped.
Reports said a gang of four men in a Peugeot 406 saloon car stormed the Isuofia, Aguata Council Area country home of the Soludos at about 6.00 pm and took the elder Soludo away without any resistance.
However, in a measured tone, Prof. Soludo, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Anambra State, told The Guardian last night: “It is well. I think it is political, but we’ll see how it goes.”
No word had been heard about the whereabouts of the elder Soludo by midnight yesterday.
This is the second time the former CBN governor’s aged father, a retiree from NIGERCEM Cement Factory in Nkalagu, Ebonyi State, would suffer attack from unknown persons. The 78-year old man lost an eye to assailants in January 2006 after he was attacked and left for dead in the same Isuofia village.
Soludo had often explained that the kidnap of his father led him to relocate his wife and children to the United Kingdom
The Soludo Campaign Organization, in a statement issued titled: “They Cannot Break Our Will,” by Leo Chiegboka, said: “At about 6pm today, Tuesday, October 27, 2009, a gang of armed men invaded the village residence of 78 year old Pa Simeon N. Soludo and kidnapped him. Up until now, no word has been heard as to his whereabout. Pa Soludo is the father of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming election in Anambra State , Professor Chukwuma C. Soludo.
“This current action against Pa Soludo is reminiscent of the brutal attack on him in January 2006 after Prof. Soludo completed the banking consolidation and revoked the licenses of 14 banks. In that attack, Pa Soludo was left for the dead and he permanently lost an eye. That was his prize for the son’s attempt to rescue the banking system. From all indications, this kidnap is politically motivated as his son (Prof. Soludo) is the clear front-runner to win the next gubernatorial election in Anambra.
“We wish to urge Prof. Soludo’s supporters, all Anambra people and indeed Nigerians to remain calm. Prof. Soludo is in high spirits. According to him, “this one too shall pass away”. He considers this as one of the many travails that must come to pass on his road to rescue and salvage Anambra State from the cabal that insists on holding the state hostage. We believe that the cabal knows that with Soludo as Governor, it can no longer be business as usual, and that is why they are fighting desperately in an attempt to break his will. By the special grace of God, and the resolve of the people, they cannot succeed! Prof. Soludo has resolved to make security of lives and property in the state a major plank of his administration.”
In conclusion, the statement said: “We wish to thank the Inspector General of Police and all the Intelligence and Security agencies for their prompt response so far. We also thank all our friends and well wishers for their concern and support. We all pray for the safe return of Pa Soludo who is paying an unusual sacrifice for the salvation of Anambra State.”
According to Chike Anyanonu, a member of the family, who also confirmed the report, Pa Soludo was abducted at about 7.30 p.m.
Last night, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Philemon Leha, said he received the information but did not know if it was true or not, but he had sent his men to Isuofia.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Communication, Ifeanyi Ubabuko said that the governor was away and the kidnap had again proved Governor Peter Obi’s position that most kidnapping incidents in the state were politically motivated.
He said it was curious that the kidnap was coming on the heels of the PDP rally in the State.
While disclosing that the governor was already in touch with security agencies and had given them marching orders to apprehend the kidnappers, Ubabuko said that the recent kidnappings in the State involving Chief Okeke (GUO) and Mr. Pete Edochie had been resolved, and promised that the case of Soludo’s father would not be an exception.