BEVERLY HILLS, March 31, (THEWILL) – Gunmen on Wednesday attacked former Central Bank Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, and killed the three orderlies attached to the renowned Economist who is a foremost contestant in the Anambra State gubernatorial election scheduled for later this year.
The whereabouts of Charles, 60, have remained unknown, although witnesses were confident he escaped unhurt.
The assailants struck in Soludo’s home town of Isuofia in the Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State where he had gone to hold a meeting.
An eyewitness said, “Gunmen disrupted an interactive session between Isuofia youths and Soludo at the town’s civic centre. Three policemen were reportedly shot dead in the meeting.”
A media aide to Soludo, who pleaded not to be identified, also confirmed the incident.
He said, “I can’t confirm the whereabouts of Professor Soludo. There was a stampede. I don’t know where Soludo is now.
“I only learnt that the state Commissioner for Public Utilities, Emeka Ezenwanne, was taken away; but I have not heard about the whereabouts of Soludo.”
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, also confirmed the incident.
Soludo had in February 2010 contested the seat of the Governor of Anambra State as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but lost to Peter Obi.
Later in 2013, the former CBN Governor (2004-2009) crossed-carpet from PDP to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) only to have his preparation for the November 2013 governorship race chequered by a disqualification handed him by the APGA Screening Committee.
He has already begun moves to realise his gubernatorial ambition on the platform of APGA in the election that Nigeria’s electoral agency has announced for November 2021.
