Governor Soludo Urges South-East to Move Past Civil War, Focus on National Development

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has called on the people of Nigeria's South-East region to close the chapter on the Civil War and channel their energies toward active participation in national development and governance.

Speaking at the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony in Awka on Thursday, Soludo emphasized that the conflict officially ended 56 years ago, on January 15, 1970, and should no longer be a justification for ongoing violence or separatist agitation.

“We cannot continue to fight a civil war that ended 56 years ago by hiding in the bushes and killing ourselves. January 15 marked the official end of the civil war, and that chapter of our history must remain closed,” the governor declared.

He urged youths in the region to reconsider careers in the military and security agencies, warning that without representation, they would lack influence in national security structures.

“If you do not join the police or the army in the next 15 years, you will be complaining about the absence of senior military officers from your region. I urge you to express interest in serving Nigeria,” Soludo said.

Appeal to Armed Groups and Improved Security

Soludo directly addressed armed groups operating under the banner of Biafra agitation, appealing for them to abandon violence and reintegrate into society. “I want to call on our brothers in the bushes who claim they are liberators to come out. Human beings do not live in the bush,” he stated.

He also commended security agencies for improved safety in Anambra, noting that the state enjoyed a peaceful Christmas celebration and had reclaimed eight local government areas previously troubled by criminal activities.

Governor Soludo used the occasion to honor fallen heroes and active service personnel, stressing that the sacrifices made during the Civil War should inspire national unity, not continued division. His message marks a significant political appeal for regional reintegration and a shift from separatist narratives toward collective nation-building.