Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has established a 15- member Truth, Justice and Peace Committee to enable rapprochement with activists under the cover of IPOB, the Indigenous People of Biafra which was outlawed by the Nigerian government.
Governor Soludo had during his recent inauguration promised to engage IPOB and other activists in Anambra State to rein in violence and foster a lasting peace in the state.
The committee which is headed by a former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, the wife of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as secretary.
Other committee members are Charles Oputa (Charly Boy); Dr. Joe Nwaorgu; Dr. Udenta Udenta – Member; Dr. Uju Agomoh, Rev. Fr (Msgnr) Jerome Madueke, Canon Dr. Okechukwu C. Obi-Okoye and Dr. John Otu.
The rest are Mr. Ngozi Odumuko, Ms Onyeka Onwenu, Dr. Joe Abah, Mr. Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, Mr. Sam Egwuatu and Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu.
The Secretary to the Anambra State Government, SSG, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, said the committee would 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 and conditional mercy for the repentant perpetrators.
The committee is also empowered to seek a 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.
According to the Secretary to the Government of Anambra State, given the cross-border nature of the conflict, the focus would go beyond Anambra, and possibly covers the entire South East.
