CLO SUES FOR PEACE OVER UMUOBA ANAM – AGULERI COMMUNAL CRISIS, CALLS FOR JUDICIAL PANEL OF INQUIRY
By Uzo Ugwunze
The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Anambra State Branch, has appealed to the warring communities of Umuoba Anam and Aguleri in Anambra East LGA to eschew violence and embrace peace, dialogue and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in resolving their land dispute.
This is contained in a press statement issued to newsmen in Awka on Tuesday and jointly signed by Evang. Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, AMBP-UN, Chairman, Comrade Chidi Mbah, Secretary, and Comrade Damian Ogudike, Publicity Secretary. The statement is titled: “There is No Alternative To Peace.”
CLO”s Position:
The organization stated that in every conflict, peace can only be actualized through roundtable discussions and sincere dialogue. CLO noted that wars and communal clashes benefit no one – neither winners nor losers.
“In every conflict, it is only through roundtable, dialogue and alternative conflict resolution that peace will be actualized. Wars and communal clashes never benefit anyone, not even winners nor losers. That is why no stone should be left unturned to avert wars and conflicts,” the statement said.
CLO, quoting former Biafran Leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, described violence as “the worst form of irresponsibility and lawlessness.”
The human rights body appealed to leaders of both communities to embrace peace and counsel their subjects to be law-abiding and not to take laws into their hands, but to report all suspicious movements to security agencies for prompt action.
Commiseration:
CLO commiserates with families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate clash and prays for the eternal repose of their souls in paradise. It also wishes those injured quick recovery.
Commendation to Governor and Police:
CLO commends the prompt intervention of His Excellency, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, Executive Governor of Anambra State, and his promise to hold strategic stakeholders’ meetings with both communities to find lasting solution.
The organization equally appreciates the gallantry, professionalism and proactive measures taken by the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanah Amah, and his on-the-spot assessment visit to the troubled areas, which has restored normalcy, improved confidence among affected communities and boosted the morale of officers and men posted to the area.
Call for Probe:
CLO, however, calls on Governor Soludo and the Commissioner of Police to as a matter of urgency, constitute a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote circumstances surrounding the recent communal clash and ensure that those who instigated the avoidable crisis are made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to others.
Anambra has had enough of communal crises. We cannot afford to allow Umuoba Anam and Aguleri, two brotherly communities, to continue on the path of bloodshed over land that God gave to them in abundance.”
Conclusion:
“Let us think peace, wish peace, love peace, act peace and live peacefully to actualize the livable, peaceful and prosperous Anambra State of our dreams, hope and aspirations. There is no alternative to peace,” Ezekwueme concluded.
Signed:
Evang. Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, AMBP-UN
Chairman, CLO Anambra State
Comrade Chidi Mbah
Secretary, CLO Anambra State
Comrade Damian Ogudike
Publicity Secretary, CLO Anambra State.
Uzo Ugwunze is of the Anambra State Ministry of Information and Value Reformation
