By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has declared tomorrow, Monday, April 4, 2022 as a Day of Prayer for Peace for Alaigbo.

Making the declaration over the weekend, the governor implored Anambra people and all religious congregations to join in this important day of prayer, which will take place within the premises of the cathedrals, churches and prayer houses across Igbo nation by 11:00am.

Soludo also enjoined the faithful wherever they maybe across Nigeria, or abroad to pause and join in fellowship as God’s face is sought.

He said: “It is the expectation of the joint body that the conclusion of the prayer session shall mark the end of sit-at-home in Anambra State in particular and the Southeast region in general.

“The move became necessary to seek spiritual solution to the challenges currently affecting economic activities.

“It is clear to all that the order was ill advised and counter-productive and not the solution to the release of the Leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, adding that effort was being made to ensure speedy resolution of his detention.

“We call on all criminal elements masquerading as working under the instruction of IPOB or ESN to cease and desist from further acts of violence and criminality or face the implacable force of law and order.

“We call on all who may have taken up arms in the belief that their grievances could be achieved only through armed struggle to lay down their arms. The government and good people of Anambra hereby offer the olive branch for you all to return. The Anambra State government hereby undertakes to train, rehabilitate and empower you to contribute to our homeland development. The centres where our youths can register for help will be announced shortly.

“We call on all injured, aggrieved and victims of the insecurity in Alaigbo over the past three years to step forward and cooperate with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that will be inaugurated by the Anambra State Government next week to conduct an inquiry into the remote and immediate causes of the agitations, documentation and examination of the circumstances surrounding the killings in the south east, and recommendations on the road to sustainable solutions.”

Speaking during a stakeholders peace meeting with Security Chiefs, Traditional Rulers and Religious Leaders, at Prof. Dora Akuyilli Women Development Centre Awka, Soludo observed that sit-at-home exercise has done incalculable damage to the economy of Anambra State and indeed the Southeast.

He stressed that the most productive day of the week is being lost as intra-, inter-state and even international business activity are severely constrained, and slowly forcing the diversion of economic activity to other commercial centres outside Alaigbo.

The Governor reiterated that IPOB has cancelled Monday sit-at-home order, saying that anybody or group enforcing the relaxed order is neither from IPOB nor from IPOB volunteer group.

He called for constructive and continuous dialogue by all parties as a more sustainable solution to overcoming the challenge and win the hearts and minds of the people.

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