TheNewsGuru

Tag: Gov. Charles Soludo

  • MURIC commends Soludo for banning betting

    MURIC commends Soludo for banning betting

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has commended Gov. Charles Soludo of Anambra State for banning betting in the state.

    This is contained in a statement on Saturday, by MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola in Abuja.
    “The governor of Anambra State, Dr Charles Soludo banned betting institutions like Bet9ja, NairaBet on Friday, Oct. 21.The ban also affected gambling inside casinos.

    “We commend the governor for taking this step. It is bold, righteous and commendable. Soludo is exhibiting high level morality and undisguised discipline in governance. It will be recalled that he recently banned the wearing of mini-skirts by school girls in the state. He is demonstrating zero tolerance for lasciviousness, licentiousness and avaricious greed.

    “The Muslim Rights Concern is showing interest in Soludo’s way of governance because his style conforms with the Muslim way of life. We will not be surprised if he does not drink and does not smoke. Soludo is promoting virtues, fighting vice and projecting righteousness. This man can clean up the mess in our society.

    He is a presidential material, ceteris paribus. Therefore, MURIC will not hesitate to support him at the right time.
    “It is not about religion every time. It is about values, norms and orientation. Soludo is not a Muslim but a man who has morality and discipline deeply tucked in his curriculum vitae has already scored high marks in our assessment parameters,” Akintola said.

    He added:“Some Nigerians have misunderstood MURIC. Our defence of or support for a Muslim is not unconditional. We will not defend the indefensible. We stood by President Muhammadu Buhari on the basis of his astounding simplicity and unassailable integrity.

    “Some people misinterpreted this stand for support for Buhari’s political party whereas we have nothing to do with any political party. We align with righteousness, not political party. We promote transparency, probity and accountability, not primordial sentiments. That informs why we are singing Soludo’s praise today even though he is not in Buhari’s political party.

    “We are not unaware that Soludo’s ban on betting in Anambra State was informed by what the state government’s statement called ‘a worrisome number of petitions recently received by the government concerning the manipulation of casino machines and non-transparency in payment for winnings.

    “What else should we expect from the gambling kingdom? The statement issued by the government of Anambra State confirms the belief of God-fearing people that the primary purpose and goal of indulging in betting and gambling are cheating, reaping where one did not sow and joining the get-rich-fast syndrome. Betting, gambling and cheating are like six and half dozen.”

    “Betting and gambling represent high tech fraud. They impoverish millions and enrich a handful. Too many people are made to suffer while only a few smile. It symbolises the height of man’s wickedness to man. Unfortunately those who receive the brunt are the extremely poor, the hungry, the underdogs and the homeless.

    “The Glorious Qur’an 2:219 explicitly prohibits gambling. It refers to it as an abomination and a handiwork of Shaytan (the devil). The Qur’an classifies gambling and drinking of alcohol together. No wonder that the two often go together such that you find alcohol very close to where you find gamblers.

    “Although there is no verse of the Bible that clearly bans betting and gambling, some verses still condemn the love of money and the crave for quick wealth. Proverbs 13:11 says, ‘Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.’ 1 Timothy 6:9-10 declares, ‘But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

    For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

    “We therefore call on Soludo to go beyond finding a temporary solution to the nefarious activities of betting and gambling institutions in the state. Those two Satanic practices should remain banned.”

  • Onitsha becoming ‘dead’ city, Gov. Soludo laments

    Onitsha becoming ‘dead’ city, Gov. Soludo laments

    Gov. Charles Soludo of Anambra State has lamented the high rate of evacuation of businesses and productive assets from Onitsha to other neighbouring states.

    Soludo expressed his displeasure at a strategic meeting with landlords in Onitsha on Thursday.

    Landlords from Omagba Phases l and ll, GRA Onitsha Zone, Onitsha Housing Estate, American Quarters, Trans-Nkisi areas, among many others, participated in the meeting.

    The governor explained that the meeting was in line with the mantra of “Be Your Brother’s Keeper’, saying that it had become necessary to dialogue on how best to reclaim Onitsha, starting from the contributions of the landlords.

    While describing Onitsha city as ‘dead’, he said that everyone had one critical role or the other to play to take the city to an enviable reputation.

    “Recalled that Onitsha was once known to be housing the largest market in West Africa, which is sadly no longer the case, as new businesses and investments are now tilting towards neighbouring states.

    “A verifiable estimate shows that 35 to 40 per cent of businesses and productive assets in Onitsha are evacuating to neighbouring states.

    “This is the reality of the situation and my administration is committed to turning around Onitsha into a smart megacity, as Onitsha has advanced into a metropolis.

    “Hence, this civic engagement. I need your support to drive home the initiatives and policy thrusts of this administration,” he said.

    Soludo said that the landlords would benefit the most from the engagement because the value of their assets would increase eventually.

    In his remarks, Mr Edward Ibuzo, a lawmaker representing Onitsha North Constituency ll in the state House of Assembly, appreciated the governor for the meeting and promised to support the initiative.

  • IPOB are no criminals to be given amnesty- Kanu tells Anambra Governor

    IPOB are no criminals to be given amnesty- Kanu tells Anambra Governor

    Kanunta Kanu, brother of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has told Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State that members of the group are no criminals to be given amnesty.

     

    He reacted to the amnesty offered to the pro-Biafra group by Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State.

     

    On Monday, Soludo promised to grant IPOB members and other Biafra agitators amnesty if they lay down their arms in the state.

     

    Soludo had disclosed this shortly after a prayer session meant to end the controversial sit-at-home order originally imposed by IPOB.

     

    Governor Soludo had said: “I have also offered Amnesty to all our brothers in the various forests around us. Give us your guns and trust us to help you forge a meaningful living.”

     

    Reacting to the development, Kanu said IPOB’s militia arm, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, was set up to defend the Eastern region against some criminals.
    In a tweet on Tuesday, Kanu insisted that IPOB is not a criminal group that should be given amnesty.

     

    “IPOB led by #MaziNnamdiKanu formed #ESN to defend Biafraland against herdsmen terrorists. Upon the rendition of #MNK, IPOB called for Monday #SitAtHome, which it has ended. IPOB supports Gov Soludo’s efforts to end criminality in SE, but IPOB are no criminals to be given amnesty,” Kanu wrote.