Land dispute: Peter Obi urges communities to embrace peace

File: NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi

A former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has appealed to the people of Umuoba-Anam and Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State to immediately cease hostilities and embrace peace.

Obi made the appeal in a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, expressing concern over reports of renewed hostilities between the two communities.

Obi, who governed Anambra State between 2006 and 2013 and contested the 2023 presidential election on the Labour Party platform, has continued to comment on national and state issues since leaving office.

In his latest intervention, he urged community leaders to prioritise dialogue and reconciliation and work towards restoring peace while protecting lives and livelihoods.

The former governor said the violence would only worsen the hardship already being experienced by residents, stressing that the destruction caused by conflict would serve no useful purpose.

Obi urged the communities to pursue dialogue and reconciliation, saying no grievance was worth the loss of lives, destruction of homes and livelihoods or the suffering inflicted on families.

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He said, “I am deeply pained by the reports of hostilities between the good people of Umuoba-Anam and Aguleri in Anambra East LGA of Anambra State.

“Hostilities of the kind we are witnessing between the two communities achieve nothing but destruction. At a time when people are already finding it increasingly difficult to survive, adding the devastation of conflict is like adding fuel to the fire.

“I appeal to both communities to immediately cease hostilities and embrace peace. No grievance, however serious, is worth the loss of lives, the destruction of homes and livelihoods, or the pain inflicted on families.

“Let us choose dialogue over violence, reconciliation over revenge, and peace over destruction. There is always a better way to resolve our differences. May God grant wisdom to our leaders and peace to Umuoba-Anam and Aguleri. Nigeria will be ok.”

The appeal comes amid reported tensions between the neighbouring communities in Anambra East LGA, with concerns over the impact of the hostilities on residents and their livelihoods. Umuoba-Anam and Aguleri are communities in Anambra East, one of the local government areas in the state’s Anambra North Senatorial District.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, directed Amaeze Aguleri and Umuoba Anam communities in Anambra East Local Government Area to immediately cease all forms of hostilities, maintain absolute peace and exercise restraint.