Chinedum Treasure
Anambra businessman and philanthropist, Chief Sir Nonso Ozoemena (Ugegbe Anam) has appealed to youths of Aguleri and Umuoba Anam to sheath their swords, reject violence and embrace dialogue in resolving the lingering land dispute between the two communities.
Ozoemena, a native of Umuoba Anam, made the appeal in a statement on Sunday following violent confrontations between the neighbouring communities that have reportedly resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property.
He described the violence as unfortunate and unnecessary, stressing that no community could achieve meaningful development in an atmosphere of hostility and insecurity.
“Violence does not solve any problem. The only sustainable path to resolving this dispute is through dialogue, understanding and respect for the peace process,” Ozoemena said.
The founder and Executive Director of Ugegbe Foundation, also expressed concern over reports circulating on social media allegedly linking him to the conflict, particularly claims that he was among those financing what was described as the war efforts of Umuoba Anam.
Ozoemena categorically dismissed the allegations as false, describing them as deliberate attempt by what he called “fifth columnists” to damage his reputation and expose him to danger.
“It has come to my notice that my name and my residence were being erroneously roped into this violent conflict, thereby making me a target,” he said.
“That barefaced lie and smear campaign put together by fifth columnists to tarnish my hard-earned reputation has fallen flat on its face, following the swift response from the military, which carried out a search of my house and checked on me and found nothing incriminating.”
He said the incident had further reinforced the need for responsible communication, particularly at a time when tensions remained high in the area.
‘I Remain Peace-Loving and Committed to Peace’
Ozoemena further insisted that he remained a peace-loving individual and would continue to support every genuine effort aimed at sustaining peaceful coexistence between Aguleri and Umuoba Anam.
According to him, his commitment to peace should not be misconstrued because of his origin or relationship with members of either community.
“I remain a peace-loving person and I am committed to the sustenance of peace in this area. I will continue to support every legitimate effort to ensure that our people live together peacefully,” he said.
He also appealed to those allegedly fuelling the crisis to desist from actions capable of worsening the situation.
“I therefore wish to seize this opportunity to appeal to those fanning the embers of hatred and fueling this crisis to step back. This is not the time to deepen divisions or encourage young people to take up arms against one another,” he said.
Ozoemena maintained that Umuoba Anam had historically valued peaceful coexistence with its neighbours and had made significant sacrifices in pursuit of peace.
“Umuoba Anam, where I hail from, is a peace-loving community. We have demonstrated at every moment that we cherish continuous peaceful coexistence with our neighbours above everything else, ” he stated.
Ozoemena to Youths: Choose Development Over Violence
The fast rising political leader particularly appealed to youths on both sides of the divide to resist being used to perpetrate violence, urging them instead to channel their energy into productive ventures and grassroots development.
He said the future of both communities depended largely on the ability of their younger generations to reject violence and embrace initiatives that would improve education, employment, infrastructure and economic opportunities.
“Our youths must understand that violence will only destroy the future they are expected to build. They should reject every attempt to use them as instruments of destruction and focus their energy on grassroots development,” Ozoemena said.
He urged community leaders, parents, youth organisations and other stakeholders to intensify efforts toward reconciliation, while calling for peaceful mechanisms to address outstanding grievances over the disputed land.
Ozoemena also appealed to both communities to avoid inflammatory statements and actions that could trigger further confrontation, stressing that lives once lost could not be recovered and destroyed property could not easily be replaced.
He called on the relevant authorities and community leaders to create an environment where all parties could return to the negotiating table and pursue a lasting resolution to the dispute.
“Let us give peace a chance. Our people deserve to live, work and raise their families without fear. The greatest victory for Aguleri and Umuoba Anam will not be over who defeats the other, but over how we build communities where our children can prosper,” he added.
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