July 30, (THEWILL) – Charles Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, has withdrawn from the Committee on Truth, Justice and Peace, which Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, constituted.
Soludo, had in April, set up the 15-member committee to enable the state government to interface and dialogue with various agitators and to allow peace to return to the region.
The members include Professor Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman; Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, Member/Secretary; Dr Joe Nwaorgu, member.
Other members are Dr Udenta Udenta, Dr Uju Agomoh, Rev. Fr Jerome Madueke; Canon (Dr) Okechukwu C. Obi-Okoye; Dr John Otu; Mr Ngozi Odumuko; Ms Onyeka Onwenu; Dr Joe Abah; Mr Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu; Mr Sam Egwuatu and Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu.
However, on Friday, Charly Boy posted a video with a statement on his Instagram page, saying he has withdrawn from the committee for not receiving a formal invitation to be part of the Committee.
“On the 5th of Apiril, I received a phone call from HE Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, personally inviting me to join a 15-man Truth, Justice and Peace Committee to ‘identify the remote and immediate causes of the agitations, restiveness, violence and armed struggle in the SE since 1999, among other related issues.
“I personally thanked him for thinking me worthy of the role and requested that I be given a week to get back to him with my final answer and how I would like to get involved.
“However, just like the public, I was awoken on April 6, to learn through the Social Media, hundreds of phone calls and messages that I had been appointed by the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, as a member of the 15-man Truth, Justice and Peace Committee.
“Surprised at the sudden announcement, I still received the news of my nomination with gratitude and looked forward to making useful contributions to finding solutions to the festering problems.
“Till date, I never received a formal invitation to be part of the Committee’s work.
“A few months after the announcement there was a few days notice to an inaugural meeting in Awka. Since there was no formal arrangement to bring me down to Awka, I only attended the meeting via Zoom.
“The governor called me again some weeks back thinking I was already in Awka for the Innuagration and I complained about how the handlers have been communicating with us. I am reliably informed that our sister, Onyeka Owenu, went through same and has since resigned from the committee.
“Even-though I am honoured by this appointment, I am rather disappointed that the organisers and handlers have been unable to engage us in their plans and activities. I cannot in good conscience append my name to a process I was not fully invested in, albeit through no fault of mine.
“I am, therefore, formally withdrawing my name and participation from this Committee.
“I wish to commend the work of the Truth, Justice and Peace Committee and the vision of the governor for setting it up. I trust that it will live up to expectations. I wish the members well in their deliberations,” he captioned the video message.
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