Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo yesterday announced three political appointments.
This makes it six appointments he has so far announced.
The three appointees are Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Richard Nwora Madiebo, Chairman, Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) and AVM Ben Chiobi (rtd.), Special Adviser on Security to the Governor.
Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Senator Victor Umeh has hailed the strategy of dialogue adopted in tackling insecurity in Anambra State by Governor Soludo.
Umeh, answering questions from reporters in Enugu on the agenda of the new government in Anambra State, expressed happiness that the new governor had seen dialogue as a means of resolving conflicts; a development, he hoped, would tackle insecurity in the state.
He said: “Soludo has loaded manifesto. As a professor of economics, who has worked around the globe before coming to Nigeria, he knows what to do. So, we leave the work for him to do it. We’re not going to set agenda for him. He has his own agenda. We can only trust his abilities to do the things he has promised to do.
“However, at this time, we have to talk about security as the area of primary concern. Without security, he will be able to do little in Anambra State. He understands that. We expect that he will address the issue of security strategically.
“In his inaugural address, he has seen dialogue as a means of resolving conflicts and containing violence occasioned by agitations for one thing or the other. So, he is calling everybody to a round-table talk. When you talk, you achieve peace.”
Umeh urged the Federal Government to enter into dialogue with agitators, to restore peace across the country.
He said: “I have told the government to enter into dialogue with groups such as Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) and others agitating for anything in Nigeria.
“Across the country, if you don’t have the mechanism to resolve conflicts, what you harvest is disorder and insecurity. You cannot ignore people who are not happy. This is what I’ve been saying for a long time.
“The government must deploy conflict resolution mechanism hinged on dialogue. You must meet people. You cannot continue to ignore people who are angry. They will continue to do things until they get attention. So, it is cheaper to enter into dialogue than to play ostrich to the problem facing the country.”