Chinedum Treasure
Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra state, High Chief Joseph Emeka Ekwealor, has appealed to stakeholders and youths from Aguleri and Umuoba-Anam to embrace dialogue and support Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s renewed efforts to end the lingering crisis between the two communities.
Ekwealor made the appeal in a statement on Tuesday, ahead of a high-powered meeting convened by Governor Soludo at the Light House on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
The Anambra East APGA chairman commended the governor for what he described as decisive steps to prevent the disagreement between the communities from escalating into large-scale violence.
According to him, Soludo’s intervention demonstrates a commitment to protecting lives, preserving peace and preventing a recurrence of the devastating violence witnessed in the area in 1999.
“Governor Soludo has proven that he is a solution-minded governor by taking extra measures to ensure that the two communities are not allowed to engage in large-scale war, the type that we saw in 1999,” Ekwealor said.
He urged all stakeholders, particularly traditional rulers, community leaders, political actors, opinion leaders and youths, to take advantage of the governor’s peace initiative and work towards a negotiated resolution of the issues in contention.
Ekwealor particularly appealed to youths from Aguleri and Umuoba-Anam to resist any temptation to resort to violence, stressing that confrontation could only deepen the problems confronting both communities.
“Our youths must understand that violence does not solve any problem. What is required at this moment is constructive negotiation, dialogue and mutual understanding,” he said.
He further appealed to the younger generation to consider the long-term consequences of conflict and recognise the shared interests and relationships that bind the people of the two communities.
“They must understand that we have so many things in common, now and in the future. Fighting ourselves is therefore not necessary,” Ekwealor stated.
The APGA chairman said the people of Aguleri and Anam should see the current peace process as an opportunity to turn a painful chapter in their history into a new beginning based on reconciliation, cooperation and peaceful coexistence.
He called on all parties to approach Wednesday’s meeting with open minds and a genuine commitment to peace, urging them to place the interests of their communities and future generations above individual or sectional considerations.
“Let us give peace a chance. Let us choose dialogue over confrontation and reconciliation over retaliation. No disagreement is worth the destruction of lives, homes and the future of our people,” he appealed.
Ekwealor expressed optimism that with sincerity, patience and the cooperation of all stakeholders, the Soludo administration’s peace initiative would produce a lasting resolution and restore confidence among the affected communities.
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