Aguleri-Umuoba Anam War: You Can’t Rename Community By Buying Their Land—Soludo
Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has said nobody individual, group or community can rename a town simply because they acquired a part of its land.
Soludo said this while presiding over the peace meeting between the people of Aguleri and Umuoba Anam both in Anambra East Local Government Area at the government House in Awka on Oct. 7.
Recall that Aguleri and Umuoba Anam on Oct. 1 engaged in a deadly war that claimed lives and property over a protracted land dispute.
Soludo said was both legally wrong and against common sense that a people will try to change the name of a community because they acquired part of her land as a group.
According to him, imagine that came to Awka to acquire 1,000 plots of land and you try to rename it Umudiora Anam because you bought it as a community, they will chase you again.
“It is not correct, you cannot change the name of a place by mere acquisition, even though I am not a lawyer, it is against common sense.
“I have to tell you the truth so that I can go home and sleep in peace,” he said.
Soludo went ahead to set up a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the remote and immediate cause of the dispute between Aguleri and Umuoba Anam Communities.
The governor lamented the tragic loss of lives and the widespread destruction of properties, saying that such lawlessness was entirely unacceptable to his administration.
He ordered a ceasefire and directed security agencies to maintain a robust, round-the-clock presence in the affected areas to ensure full compliance.
The governor assured all parties that his government remained firm, fair, and uncompromising in the pursuit of lasting peace and justice across the state.
He condemned the attack on the traditional stool as an assault on the heritage of the state and promised that his administration would assist in rebuilding the destroyed palace and restore traditional dignity.
Soludo also empanelled a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to thoroughly examine all petitions, complaints, and historical grievances.
“This Commission has the mandate to submit its comprehensive report withi
n four months,” it said
