Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has appealed to youths in the South-East to stop excluding themselves from national relevance by enlisting in the Nigerian Armed Forces and actively participating in the country’s security and governance structures.
The governor made the call in Awka during the wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
Speaking while reflecting on the 56th anniversary of the end of the Nigerian Civil War, Soludo described the conflict as unnecessary and stressed that the principle of “no victor, no vanquished” must continue to guide Nigeria’s unity and progress.
He said the annual remembrance was meant to honour all Nigerians who lost their lives in defence of the nation, both during the civil war and in the years that followed.
“We are remembering not just members of our armed forces who died during that needless war, but all those who paid the supreme price afterwards,” he said. “This is the time we have set aside as a nation to remember and to say: never again.”
Soludo paid tribute to widows, widowers and families of fallen heroes, while commending serving military and security personnel, particularly those deployed in Anambra State, for their sacrifices in maintaining peace and order.
Addressing the South-East directly, the governor expressed concern over the low number of Anambra indigenes in Nigeria’s security architecture, describing it as self-marginalisation that limits the region’s influence in national affairs. He urged young people to see military service as a platform to contribute meaningfully to the country and secure their stake in its future.
“We must participate as co-owners of Project Nigeria,” he said, noting that more than five decades after the civil war, the region must fully reintegrate into all national institutions.
On the lingering insecurity in the region, Soludo called on those involved in violent agitation to abandon such actions and embrace peace.
“The era of terror is over, and I call on our brothers in the bushes to come out,” he said. “We will help you to become useful citizens of the state. To Ndi Anambra and the rest of the South-East, this is the time to remind ourselves that the war has ended.”
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security commanders in Anambra State for their efforts, expressing optimism that the long-standing security challenges facing the state would soon be brought under control.