Land Dispute: Ozoemena Calls on Aguleri, Umuoba Anam Youths to Shun Violence

By Our Reporter

Anambra businessman and philanthropist, Chief Sir Nonso Ozoemena (Ugegbe Anam), has appealed to youths of Aguleri and Umuoba Anam to reject violence and embrace dialogue in resolving the lingering land dispute between the neighbouring communities.

Ozoemena, who hails from Umuoba Anam, made the appeal in a statement on Sunday amid reports of violent confrontations between the two communities, which have allegedly resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property.

He described the violence as unfortunate and unnecessary, stressing that meaningful development could not take place 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 financing what was described as the war efforts of Umuoba Anam.

Ozoemena categorically dismissed the allegations as false, describing them as a deliberate attempt by what he called “fifth columnists” to tarnish 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 further underscored the importance of responsible communication, particularly as tensions remain high in the area.

‘I Remain Peace-Loving and Committed to Peace’

Ozoemena reiterated his commitment to peaceful coexistence between Aguleri and Umuoba Anam, saying he would continue to support legitimate efforts aimed at resolving the dispute.

“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 individuals allegedly fuelling the crisis to desist from actions capable of escalating tensions.

“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.

The philanthropist maintained that Umuoba Anam had historically valued peaceful coexistence with neighbouring communities and had made 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 Urges Youths to Choose Development Over Violence

Ozoemena, who described himself as a rising political leader, particularly appealed to youths on both sides to resist being used to perpetrate violence and instead 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 support initiatives capable of improving 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,” he said.

He urged community leaders, parents, youth organisations and other stakeholders to intensify reconciliation efforts while pursuing peaceful mechanisms for addressing outstanding grievances over the disputed land.

Ozoemena also called on both communities to avoid inflammatory statements and actions capable of triggering further confrontation, noting that lives lost could not be recovered and destroyed property could not easily be replaced.

He further appealed to relevant authorities and community leaders to create an atmosphere conducive to dialogue, allowing all parties to return to the negotiating table and work towards a lasting resolution.

“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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