Obidigwe: Dialogue, Not Violence, Is the Way Forward in Aguleri–Umuoba Anam Land Dispute

By Our Reporter

Chief Chinedu Obidigwe, the APGA candidate for Anambra East and West Federal Constituency, has called for dialogue and lawful dispute-resolution mechanisms to end the lingering land dispute between Umuoba Anam and Amaeze Aguleri, warning that violence can only deepen divisions and cause irreversible loss.

Obidigwe, who hails from Enugu-Otu Aguleri, stressed that the dispute should be understood as a matter between Umuoba Anam and Amaeze Aguleri, rather than being framed as a conflict between the wider Anam and Aguleri communities.

According to him, the distinction is important because both communities share longstanding historical and ancestral ties.

“Our people are connected by history and ancestry. When we lose sight of that history, neighbours can begin to see one another as enemies. We must teach our people where we came from, because understanding our shared past can help us protect our common future,” Obidigwe said.

He commended the Anambra State Government, particularly the Deputy Governor, Dr. OnyekaChukwu Ibezim, whose office handles boundary-related matters, as well as the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, for visiting the disputed area as part of efforts to prevent further escalation.

The state government has reportedly designated the disputed area as a red zone, directing the parties to stay away while efforts are made to resolve the matter peacefully. Security agencies are also investigating the violence.

Education as a tool for peace

Obidigwe argued that education should go beyond academic qualifications and equip citizens with the reasoning, restraint and civic responsibility required to resolve disagreements peacefully.

“I have never seen a well-grounded graduate who would prefer to carry an AK-47 to settle a disagreement rather than pursue dialogue, alternative dispute resolution or, where necessary, go to court,” he said.

“Education must teach us that disagreement is not a licence to destroy lives.”

He further identified poverty and unemployment as factors that can make young people vulnerable to recruitment into communal violence.

“It is difficult to recruit a young man who is doing well in his business or career into violence because he has something to protect and a future to lose,” Obidigwe said.

“If we want lasting peace, we must reduce poverty and give our young people legitimate reasons to believe in tomorrow.”

‘No piece of land is worth a human life’

On the disputed land, Obidigwe referenced the Land Use Act 1978, urging the affected communities to rely on lawful processes, alternative dispute resolution and the courts where necessary.

He maintained that disagreements over land ownership or boundaries should never become justification for the loss of human lives.

“No piece of land is worth the life of a son, brother, husband, or father,” he said.

“Land can be disputed, boundaries can be determined, and cases can be taken to court; but a life lost cannot be restored.”

The APGA candidate welcomed the intervention of the Deputy Governor and the ongoing investigation by security agencies, particularly assurances that individuals who took the law into their own hands and were responsible for the loss of lives or destruction of property would face justice.

He also urged residents of the affected communities to respect the government’s red-zone directive and allow the authorities to complete their investigations and peace-building efforts.

Appeal to traditional and community leaders

Obidigwe called on traditional rulers, town unions, youth leaders, women leaders and other stakeholders to exercise restraint and place the long-term interests of their communities above anger, provocation and retaliation.

He warned against allowing a dispute involving two communities to damage the broader relationship between the people of Anam and Aguleri.

“Let us not allow a dispute between two villages to destroy the relationship between our great communities,” he appealed.

“The real victory will not come from defeating one another; it will come when both sides can sit down, resolve their differences peacefully, and leave their children a future without inherited bitterness.”

He reiterated that sustained peace would require not only immediate intervention but also a broader effort to deepen historical understanding, expand educational opportunities, reduce poverty and strengthen peaceful mechanisms for resolving communal disputes.

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