Charles Soludo Moves to Ban Midweek Burials in Anambra

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:05]Friday.

[00:00:22]So, let me ask how many days is he asking for burial to hold to take place?

[00:00:27]>> Just weekend. Just weekend. It shouldn't hold.

[00:00:30]>> And I don't think burials hold on Sunday. So the only day you probably have is Saturday.

[00:00:34]>> Saturday. Okay. So no more burials on this. But but why is that? That's the question. Why?

[00:00:40]>> Cuz question why are people dying?

[00:00:45]>> I mean it's inevitable. People will die.

[00:00:47]People die in every state in Nigeria.

[00:00:49]But so much so that the that it taken that it caught the attention of the governor for him to make such a statement and asked that you know uh and ban weekday burials or funeral services.

[00:01:00]Um look I I I don't know what's going on in Anra state for him to have prompted that statement. Uh but I I feel like this is a this is a governor grasping our straws to point at everything that seems to be the issue when it comes to economic productivity in the state because this is the former governor of the central bank of Nigeria. This is a PhD holder. This is somebody who studied economics who has driven who has sat at the apex bank of a nation. Right. A professor. Thank you very much. And somehow um the only way that you can solve economic issues is midweek burial services or funeral services.

[00:01:47]>> Um how I mean how many local governments do we have in that state? How many residents are in the state? How many um how much is the population of Adamra state alone that you are banning funeral services? I just have to say that um come correct sir. Good morning sir.

[00:02:04]>> It's a lot. It's a lot. I I want to believe that maybe um Governor um Soludo has looked at the IGR, maybe the internal generated revenue of the state is not looking pretty good. I mean, I just want to I just want to say maybe I'm giving I'm giving a reason why he he would make that statement. And also, let's let's be fair.

[00:02:27]>> Well, if there's a problem of absenteeism, >> well, let's let's be fair on the governor. Let's be fair. If you've been to the east, you would know that the the preparation that goes into funeral arrangements and some ceremonies can be a whole lot.

[00:02:47]>> Okay?

[00:02:48]>> Sometimes it could take 3 days. It could take days. I mean the my brothers who are watching all the way from the east will agree. But sometimes it takes a whole lot in terms of preparation, resources. However, this also borders on interfering with one's freedom >> to engage and privacy to choose what they want to do.

[00:03:11]>> But the governor is saying that if this is in a way affecting you know the way people operate in terms of their work. Remember that this is a governor who has been who just battled the sit at home issue on Monday. He also mentioned it in this speech Monday sit at home. It became it became a norm and he came to say listen it cannot be it's not normal >> extended weekend >> exactly it's not normal let's change it and this is the footage where he had gone to the market space spoke to the people and said come out you need to come out we cannot continue like this we need to build our own state so I think he's still on that trajectory to ensure that people become more active when it comes to work people become more vivid people be people put in more effort as regards just picking too many I don't I don't know if Anra is a place of holiday but it's I believe they work hard but then again if the governor brothers the yeah >> if he's there as a governor he's saying listen you need to do more just to reiterate what I said earlier I think this is we're not North not North not North not North not North not North not North not North not North not North not Korea Nigeria is a democratic state you're not going to intervene in people's uh private lives in that sense and tell them what time to associate and who to associate with. Uh burials are a significant part of every culture and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity cuz people are only going to die once and if the loved ones feel they want to throw an elaborate uh ceremony for the faithfully departed. Well, it's their business and it's their money.

[00:04:47]They haven't come to the governor to solicit for funds or say you should set aside uh x amount for burials every day.

[00:04:54]So it's their business. I think this is uh the governor is taking it too far and uh let's let there be a fine balance between uh governance and also private uh individuals uh lives. Anyway, you said it all. Let's see what Nigerians are saying. Let's go to YouTube first and get your comments very quickly on YouTube. Um Saint Mr. Johnson says, "Good morning, New Central. Good morning to you." Yes, we see you. It says, "What is the meaning of this? Is burial ceremony a business over there? Then again, if they are not blocking the road or affecting other people's businesses, then I think Mr. Governor um is not um getting the decision right. Is it going to pay for people to keep their loved ones in the mug till Saturday? If it happens, uh they died on Monday. That's a good question. Why should we be discussing about this self? Well, we have to discuss it because it makes it a wake up conversation. the people are actually you know agitating that why is this going on >> until government stops you from burying your loved one you will talk about it why [laughter] while we discussing it >> you discuss >> oh better yet I mean let's not forget also religion plays into this if I am Muslim right because if I'm Muslim and I'm and and I live in Anra or I'm from Anra state and my lose a loved one I have to bury them within 24 hours and if they die on a Wednesday or a Thursday or a Friday which falls within the weekday are you going to ban me from burying them? I think that there's a lot that needs to be discussed besides just you know >> there's a lot I mean didn't he didn't the governor say he wanted to turn an amra to Taiwan is this what they doing in Taiwan the leader of an Apex bank before you should think by now you're bringing these funerals Soludo has nothing meaningful to offer and says he's resort to these irreverent irrelevant issues let him train oh says he should train his son anyway let's not get it personal Let's focus on the issue. Okay. Um Governor Soludo is on a spree of um misplaced priority. He says in the name of productivity, does he know the whole economic activity that revolve around burial >> between Obian and Soludo who need psychiatrist attention? Now look at look at look at look at what let's not go there.

[00:07:08]>> Let's not go there. But but let's go on X.

[00:07:11]>> Let's see what Nigerians are saying on X. Don't forget these views are the views of you Nigerians and not the views expressly uh shown here on News Central or expressed here on the program. Uh quick one. Uh let's see very quickly. We do have um another tweet. Let's take this one. It says, "Is this man serious at all? Is he joking and putting us on or just assumes Anra people are stupid?"

[00:07:39]a professor who is widely educated and travel talking like h okay this guy's [snorts] not happy it's obvious um he's not happy let's take another tweet very quickly um this one says he's right it's a big productivity drain if you have lived in the village you would know everybody knows everybody and it's from one burial to another relentlessly while you have three already lined up three more will be announced >> no my own issue again is cuz I can't remember the last time I attended the funeral.

[00:08:10]>> What is killing these people or who is killing them?

[00:08:12]>> Big guy.

[00:08:12]>> Also, I think I think the issue here is there there there are no third spaces.

[00:08:16]There's no space between um there are no third spaces for where people can socialize because if people are moving from one funeral service to another funeral service to go and >> but that's how it is surprisingly everywhere the villages.

[00:08:29]>> Yeah. In the south. Yeah. We're both from the south.

[00:08:32]>> Funerals are sad events. Why are you going there to celebration?

[00:08:36][clears throat] Well, you see, some of these things are rooted in the history or the annals of culture.

[00:08:44]It's been there for long. I I think I'm trying to understand what the governor is trying to do. He's trying to break the yoke and say, "Listen, I need you guys to think differently. Leave this um his historic relevance on burials away and focus on improving but turning an >> Exactly. It's not just going to take, you know, this is what people were. It's deeply entrenched. They've been used to these things for years from the town criers to to the to people wearing the same clothes to the dancers to to the food to everything. So it's like it's like it's part of the culture.

[00:09:18]>> Okay. Civil servants if there's a case of absenteeism and civil servants abandoning their duty post to attend funerals that's a problem. Uh discipline problem deal with them. But private individuals, businessmen, and regular members of a public, I don't think he has a right to tell them how to spend their time, >> right?

[00:09:37]>> They're not breaking any laws.

[00:09:39]>> Anyway, let's go back to the reactions.

[00:09:40]Let let's let's wrap the reactions up very quickly on X and see what Nigerians are saying. Um um this one says, "Is this how Soludo um intendra to Dubai and Taiwan? Is his business if market owners attend burial every day? Nine open shop for them. I be n the head pay their rent. [laughter] Good question.

[00:10:00]>> Just get vision for a state. Well, uh I think that's part of the vision he's trying to share. Uh somebody please tell solution [laughter] he wanted to put soludo I guess that burials were never why he was elected he let's use his magic to bring us electricity good hospitals good road let him focus on these three. I I got to say something to our good guys at the back. The reason why we're taking it difficult to to to read those reactions is cuz our monitor screen is really fine. If you can see from all three of us were middle-aged, late30s individuals and early 40 individuals whose eyesight are gone. So bear with us. If we're reading if we're reading, I didn't know you had >> like it happened in a sister station. I didn't know you were there when they gave birth to [laughter] or you've seen a copy of my birth certificate.

[00:10:53]Let's go back to the tweets very quickly. Uh let's take some more.

[00:10:57]>> Take some more. But please bear with us if we're reading at the speed at which you're reading.

[00:11:01]>> Let's take these tweets very quickly again. Uh let's see. Let's see if we have one more left. Uh very quickly, but I wanted to also react to that last tweet. But then again, we don't have time. We need to move to our next story.

[00:11:11]But just to mention that last tweet um if we could put it back up now she said that he should rather focus on hospitals >> governance governance road and I and I I'm a big I'm a big fan I'm a lover I've always said that listen >> there's no need to come into power and say you're going for eight point agenda.

[00:11:33]I've always said it here and I'll say it anyway.

[00:11:36]>> Focus on two or three. Now people don't understand if you're coming into power there are critical areas you need to just focus on give people power give them electricity give them you know food roads and and just pick it and you you see the changes but then again we do get it we understand what the governor's challenge let's move on to our next story this one will excite um you maybe or Nigerians >> former [clears throat] president >> former vice president uh is in the eye of the storm again and many many people you know it's almost as if there's a gangle up against his presidential ambition because people are saying you know you've contested here there uh I think it's time you become a kingmaker but the former vice president Alhajukaka has warned opposition parties against zoning uh their 2027 presidential ticket to the south opposition parties which includes his own ADC saying it may weaken their chances of defeating president Bolameanu he argued that politics should not be driven by strategy should be driven by strategy. I beg your pardon, not emotion stressing that no sitting Nigerian president has ever been defeated by an opposition candidate from the same region and urge opposition groups to focus on building a strong national coalition instead of adopting what he called a selfdefeating uh zoning approach. But let's take a listen to the former vice president Well, while we wait for that footage, um um there seems to be more of the um release, a press release in that statement. Um he did make that statement clearly. Um and the party also, you know, uh made it clear louder that this is what um the candidate, remember, he just got his form like we talked about um just um over the weekend, 90 million naira paid. We did see the receipt and people were asking on social media, why do you have to put the receipt on social media to prove that? I mean he has gotten his form but notwithstanding what just happened now has clarified three things and let me quickly run let me run through it very quickly. One this also clarifies why Peter Gregory Obi and um um engineer um Rabi Musangaso had to leave the party. One of the reasons why many said they they [clears throat] left the party regardless of what others were saying is the fact that they felt there was no space for them to actually um you know represent the party as the candidates as it were because they felt that um the former vice president was not going to stop. He was >> and he didn't respected his own formula.

[00:14:14]>> Exactly. Now we do hear because we hear things as journalists. We speak to people and he said there were internal conversations where they had met with him and said uh chief chairman above no can you just calm down small make we run and he said no and we saw those stories if you recall those stories found their way to the limelight first they said he had agreed he was going to but then he came back and said no I never said so.

[00:14:39]So that's one of the reasons. Two, every other political party that's running for 2027 elections have all seeded their candidacy to the south. So it's pretty much going to look like it's only the ADC that is pushing to the north. So allar is going to stand differently and that again will point to another direction if you see he secures >> that's if he secures but come on I mean they haven't you can't ring the bell to that >> there's um there are other people there that are also [laughter] their heart let me use the word okay so who's winning the champions league finals >> champions PSG [laughter] >> okay of All right, GUYS. HANG ON. UM, WE have reactions. Uh, they're in our ears.

[00:15:33]Let's quickly run through the reactions following uh the statements have been made by uh the former vice president and who is now posed to be the uh presidential candidate for the ADC.

[00:15:44]Let's take a look at some of the reactions we found on X. Now, bear me with my eyesight. First one is on Valentine. I can help you.

[00:15:51]>> Yeah, it says won't matter if there was no zoning. Au fights his party over zoning then doesn't support zoning when he wants to contest. That's a very good point. The very next one, let's pull it up very quickly. This is Oen. I think it said it is now clear now at Nigeria problem. Man on every ballot since 1999.

[00:16:12]Waiting they worry this man. That's a question a rhetorical question there.

[00:16:17]Um, this is he goes argument against zoning the presidency to the south sounds more like self-preservation than deep political wisdom. He's suddenly discovering electoral royalities and historical precedence when it doesn't favor him. Yet in 2019, he ran against a northern incumbent without raising these same concerns. A masterclass in convenient memory. Zoning to the south right now is not sentiment. basic equity and an opportunity for genuine national building. Opposition parties should be building credible platforms, not fighting rotational uh fairness. Nigeria needs balance, not another round of selective arithmetic. Nigeria must be fixed. And yes, Nigeria must be okay. As from there, uh this is Chuku Mecha. The unity of a nation is always at the upper minds of great leaders. And then uh 80 years of age, Atiku's only hope of running is because he believes the north has the numbers, not that he is better than anyone in the south. That's injustice and unrighteousness. History will judge him. That's from Juk Ma there. But a warning uh this is echo maesture. I think at lost election so much that losing doesn't really hurt him anymore. Talk about toxic relationship.

[00:17:38]He goes on to say he is rather he will rather see Tunu win than to swallow his sp his pride to support the south. I will advise Kale to focus on wooing others for support.

[00:17:53]>> There we go. Uh so it looks like anyway let's not preempt the ADC convention. It hasn't happened. But in the event in the event that is securum [laughter] >> let let me let me say this right I said this yesterday right and unfortunately I said and then now we're seeing this in the news um I wish I can't wait for us to get to the point where rotation doesn't when you know seeding the >> I mean it's not in the constitution it's just a gentlemanly agreement an agreement and I completely understand but I cannot wait for us to get to the point where tribe is you know it's just a matter it's just there and we're we're you know picking candidates based on their um uh their their track record, you know, qualifications and all of that. That being said, this is very revealing of who Artiku really is.

[00:18:45]>> And I hate to be the person who does this. I mean, from the from the tweets and everyone, it's all revealing.

[00:18:51]Everyone have now seen your hand. I think it's clear for you to now take a back seat and now become a kingmaker.

[00:18:57]I've said it before and I'll say it again. The money that you want to use to buy presidential million, that's a lot of money. That's a lot. He's got you could have used this to throw it behind the weight of somebody else to make that change. I mean, look at those. But don't you think he has he has a ch has I mean he he stands a chance?

[00:19:16]>> No, he doesn't. He didn't stand a chance in 1999 in in >> he came second in the last in in >> he came second in. So it's like so it's like >> So one more step is going to win. Did you come first?

[00:19:28]>> Did you take the cup?

[00:19:29]>> No.

[00:19:30]>> Are you the president?

[00:19:31]>> So, he has done calculations >> to see that he knows what >> you know what he could have been doing by now, you most likely would have been, you know, in the AU. You could have been an AFDB. You could have been a diplomat.

[00:19:44]You could have done other thing. No, what I'm saying is all this time that you have been vying for office. You could have been in other fields being an like >> I mean he's been contribution to nation building. rule book in his own I mean in his own way.

[00:19:58]>> Take a take a page from Abas's rule book. Take a page from why you trying to he's a Nigerian citizen. Why are you trying to disenfranchise is one of the one of the most respected um uh other statement when it comes to the international community whether it's AU whether it's Echoas whether it's AFDB whe but the constitution of Nigeria says he can run 5 million times but now that Are you so interested in disenfranchising him?

[00:20:28]>> That's another thing. So So Judith, I know you're trying I know you're trying me.

[00:20:32]>> I know I know you're trying to envision a different life for the former vice president in case he doesn't win.

[00:20:39][laughter] But I think number one in all >> it's democracy.

[00:20:43]>> It's democracy. He has a right to run.

[00:20:45]So even if he has a right to run um he has a right to run. However, albeit what is being said, it's just pinpointed that with the statement that was made yesterday as journalists, everyone is now trying to put one and two together to see why Peter Gregory and Rabu Conquulu had to leave and it was it's no longer rumor that they had highlighted that there's there's this disagreement that it should be seeded to the south and the former vice president has just confirmed that. He also highlighted that it's dangerous. because he used the word that it's not it's not Uhuru when you move it to the south rather it should be in the north and just yesterday um Rabi Mauo in an interview said oh I'm ready to be Pab's VP like I said and I'm ready to serve and I think that puts lays to rest although let me mention here should the ADC still go down with their challenges ahead of the you know the primaries and so on the legal challenges the legal challenge ES um just like many have said we won't be shocked if um former vice president decides to step up and now play the advisory role to say listen if my party is having issues and it's becoming a ding task >> I doubt it >> now let me push all my efforts to you too >> I doubt it >> and well never say never it's politics yeah and then I think um focus now should be on the first hurdle foraka on the journey to as rock. So before you become president, you need to emerge as a flag bearer of your party. So order one order one is the ADC. He's going against a few other names, >> right?

[00:22:30]>> Maybe all these things you're maybe all these things you're saying [laughter] >> maybe all the sentiments Judit is expressing might appeal to the emotions of the delegates and they will decide not to vote for another.

[00:22:43]>> No, no, no. I'm just saying cuz I mean it's logical. and they might see reason in what you're saying and and you're not just the only one that is thinking this.

[00:22:52]So many millions of Nigerians are thinking about this and some delegates of the ADC and he might not emerge as the flag bearer. So it's a it's a possibility.

[00:23:01]>> Let me just a possibility, >> right? Let me just remove myself from the equation here. I'm just this is just my analysis. I do I don't have any. It's just you know I'm just yellow that's all. There's nothing there's nothing interesting about they they they understand no you were just looking at it from a different a different pot >> and it's b basically like seeding I mean like they do in football FIFA just look at the pot and then pick and say what if so it's a case of what if and we'll be having a lot of whatifs on breakfast central but let's see what Nigerians are saying on YouTube very quickly um at saying in his press release that zoning presidency to south wouldn't fly in a coming election is his own opinion So says as far as I'm concerned, it is only a tiku and the ADC that's going to uh let us uh probably tin is holding on.

[00:23:52]Okay, that's a jump. I didn't see uh the conclusion. Okay, probably Tinu holding on to power in 2027 with their greed and not putting poor Nigerians trying to rescue their country from the hands of uh Okay, he goes on to call them some names. Oh, I so much love this very Judith a whole lot. Okay, >> so direct and precise. Well, she said what if it's it's an if construct. Take note.

[00:24:14]>> I doubt support another candidate. The sister will replace Olive is eating the right cord on according to Michael.

[00:24:20]Okay. I hope the cord does not cut. Hold on to it so strongly. And then there's so many comments that we can't take all.

[00:24:27]But >> that's exactly what it is. Um it's going to be very interesting whether we like it or not in the coming months. And we're all here for it. We're here to bring you every information. Do we have one more story guys that we could take?

[00:24:39]Do we have time?

[00:24:40]>> Oh, we do.

[00:24:41]>> Okay.

[00:24:42]>> Okay. Uh, this time it's in River State.

[00:24:43]Let's quickly switch gears and bring you the political tensions that are rising in River State after the APC screening committee disqualified 65 aspirants including former factional speaker of the state house of assembly. And that's Victor Oku Jumbo from contesting the party's state assembly primaries ahead of the 2027 elections. The affected aspirants are believed to be loyalists of Governor Simai Fubara while 33 aspirants that are linked to FCT minister were cleared to participate. The development is further exposing the deepening power struggle within the rivers APC with concerns already mounting that the internal crisis could weaken the party's chances ahead of the next general elections.

[00:25:29]>> Interesting.

[00:25:30]>> Interesting. [clears throat] Uh, you know what comes to mind? Cuz if you pose this question to the weekend camp, they will tell you that, you know, they would use the lyrics of that famous Shaggy song. It wasn't me because it wasn't them now. They're not in they're in PDP.

[00:25:45]This is an APC.

[00:25:47]>> But the guest we had yesterday said they are put this morning. [laughter] >> The guest we had yesterday is working on.

[00:25:56]>> The guest we had yesterday said it's a rainbow coalition. So maybe there's a hybrid. There's a PDAPC type of situation.

[00:26:03]>> It was it was shown yesterday came out in throngs in in numbers yesterday >> and shame on the APC.

[00:26:09]>> Shame on the APC and shame on the PDP and because this is a sham of democracy.

[00:26:15]I'm very sorry to say the way that we have blurred the lines when it comes to democracy and how it's being played is a shame. So can we all accept that this is a one party state at this point? Because if the two major parties are playing on the same side then what is it?

[00:26:31]>> I mean you have coalations sometimes like in South Africa there's a DA and ANC government decided to come together.

[00:26:37]Yeah. They they've formed a coalition government.

[00:26:40]>> Yeah. I mean the these are realities that are happening. No no [laughter] but but Judy this this is >> I know where you're going. He's not Euroba.

[00:26:51]But these are these are realities of uh the >> of the politics that we play in Nigeria and across the world. So >> and and our politicking >> you can argue that are they coming together for the right reasons or selfish reasons that's another conversation for another day. But that they have a government of national unity or some form of holy or unholy alliance.

[00:27:14]Uh the way you interpret it might be different. So I'm just putting putting that out there.

[00:27:19]>> Anyway, it it's good. Um, but let's come back to reality. I mean, in as much as we would, you know, put a little humor here and there, try to lighten the mood.

[00:27:27]I mean, it's breakfast. But >> what we're seeing here is a clear case of what Nigerians call politics. So, they've termed Governor Similar Fubara as a weak link. If you check online, if you check some what some politicians are saying, even some commenters are saying, "Come on, you should have known that this game is a game. You have to you have to put your all. Over the weekend, just for those who don't get the story, 65 um allies of Governor Similar Fabara were celebrating. They were dancing.

[00:28:01]>> Um videos were online where they said they had conducted they had they were done with their APC, you know, private screening exercise and they were dancing that they were calling, you know, names and they were, you know, in girration.

[00:28:15]Social media went a go with, "Oh my goodness, it's finished for the FCT minister. It's finished. Oh my god, it's finished." Since they've all moved to the APC before we know it, >> some members of the PDP also >> also moved to the APC. Although that's going to be questionable because there's a particular name many said did not declare in the floor, which is the rule that you do that the minority leader um you're supposed to do so, but it didn't.

[00:28:39]>> Announce your resignation. Yeah.

[00:28:41]Infection. So all of these things happened in the twinkle of an eye only for yesterday. U the list came out that these 65 who had decamped the other generation was for nothing. They were disqualified.

[00:28:52]>> I I I I feel like we've been too hard on Fubara. I want to apologize to him. Um I feel like I've been extremely hard on him. Um if I were also in his shoes, I think that I would have thrown in the towel and also given up because um there is really no there's no moral, there's no character. And if you're in politics to serve the people, it's very clear that um it's not you're never going to serve the people. You're going to be um always looking at your back and looking at your sides and be three steps ahead.

[00:29:19]It's clearly a game of thrones. It has gone far past a a a chess game.