Soludo Picks Odinkalu, Charly Boy, Onwenu, Bianca, Others To Appease IPOB

Anambra Governor Charles Soludo has appointed a 15- member Truth, Justice and Peace Commission to stop the activities of the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB).

The committee is headed by human rights activist, Prof Chidi Odinkalu with Amb. Bianca Ojukwu as Secretary.

A statement on Wednesday by Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, named other members of the committee as Mr Charles Oputa (Charley boy); music icon Onyeka Onwenu; Dr. Joe Nwaorgu; Dr. Udenta Udenta; Dr. Uju Agomoh; Rev. Fr (Msgnr); Jerome Madueke and Canon Dr. Okechukwu C. Obi-Okoye.

Others are: Dr. John Out; Mr. Ngozi Odumuko; Dr. Joe Abah, Mr. Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu; Mr. Sam Egwuatu and Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu.

The Purpose/Terms of Reference of the Committee

The purpose of the Committee on Truth, Justice, and Peace is to seek a restorative justice approach for truth-telling or real facts, for the healing of the victims of the violence, accounting for responsibility and accountability of the actors, conditional mercy for the repentant perpetrators, restitution for certain losses and rehabilitation of the perpetrators, for the overall aim of restoration of peace and justice as well as the promotion of development in the State, and the region/Nigeria. Given the cross-border nature of the conflict, the focus goes beyond Anambra, and possibly covers the entire Southeast

Specifically, the Terms of Reference for the Committee are

1. To identify the remote and immediate causes of the agitations, restiveness, violence, and armed struggle in the South East since 1999.

2. Document victims/circumstances of death, brutality and incarceration.

3. Identify stakeholders and groups who have played critical roles in the agitations and conflicts, their roles, capabilities and demands.

4. Address any other issue(s) that may be germane to unravelling the extent of the crisis and charting the roadmap for the future.

5. Make recommendations for sustainable peace and security in Anambra state/Southeast.

The Committee shall have a direct reporting line to the Governor or his designee, and will be provided with administrative support. The Committee shall be free to draw up the methodology to accomplish its assignment.

Time Frame:

The Committee shall conclude its work no later than 6 months from its inauguration, with its preliminary report due no later than 2 months after the sunset and the final report after 2 months of receiving feedback on the preliminary report from the government. The Committee shall be inaugurated on a date to be communicated to its members.

It has a six-month timeline to conclude the assignment from the date of inauguration.

No date has however been fixed for the inauguration of the committee.