IDEMILI NORTH, ANAMBRA — In a powerful address during the unveiling of a new statue dedicated to the legendary African author Chinua Achebe, Anambra State Governor Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has delivered a fierce and urgent warning to the youth of Idemili North regarding the rising tide of cultism and the dangerous pursuit of rapid, unearned wealth.
Addressing a massive crowd of citizens and dignitaries, many adorned in traditional red caps, Governor Soludo used the monumental occasion not just to honor the late literary giant, but to invoke his timeless wisdom as a direct challenge to today’s young generation.
A Crackdown on Cultism
Speaking directly to the young men of the region, he declared an uncompromising stance against gang-related violence. He called out specific communities, urging an immediate end to the destructive behaviors plaguing the area.
- Targeted Communities: Governor Soludo specifically addressed the youth in Idemili North, directly naming the communities of Ogidi, Nkpor, Obosi, Umoji, and Abatete.
- Zero Tolerance: He forcefully condemned “cults, cultism, and cult-related crimes,” warning that the regional leadership and the communities will not tolerate the continued destabilization of their home by wayward youths.
The “Unoka” Warning: Rejecting False Prophets and Laziness
Drawing a profound parallel between modern societal decay and Achebe’s magnum opus, Things Fall Apart, the governor criticized the modern trend of seeking shortcut success through “false prophets and pastors.”
He reminded the crowd of Unoka, the notoriously lazy father of the protagonist Okonkwo, who famously consulted the Agbala oracle to find out why his crops continually failed.
- The Illusion of Quick Wealth: Governor Soludo condemned youths who flock to charlatans for miracles to “make money” (ibute ego) without putting in the necessary labor, calling it a futile and deceptive path.
- The Oracle’s Truth: Quoting the narrative of Things Fall Apart, he reminded the youth of the oracle’s harsh truth to Unoka: the gods were not to blame for his poor harvests. While other men cleared virgin forests and worked hard, Unoka was “busy farming on the same miserable soil year in, year out, and expecting a bountiful harvest.”
- A Call to Action: In a rallying cry that resonated through the crowd, he commanded the youth to emulate hard work, shouting, “Unoka, be a man!”
More Than Just a Statue
As the towering monument of Chinua Achebe, draped in a grey cover and tied with a red ribbon, stood waiting to be fully revealed, Soludo made it clear that the physical structure must serve a deeper purpose.
“This thing will not just be here as just a statue,” he stressed. “It’s not just something about, ‘Oh, we erected Chinua Achebe.’ Let’s remember the message behind this statue.”
He concluded the urgent address by cementing Achebe’s legacy not just as a writer, but as a moral compass for the whole of Igbo people and Nigerians at large.
“This is a man who lived, and who told us the right way to live,” he declared. “May we never miss the message, and whenever we see this statue, we must remember the message!”
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