Governor Chukwuma Soludo has urged young people in the South-East to stop what he termed self-exclusion from national opportunities by joining the Nigerian Armed Forces and taking their place as stakeholders in the country’s future
The Anambra State governor made the appeal in Awka during the wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
Speaking against the backdrop of the 56th anniversary of the end of the Nigerian Civil War, Soludo described the conflict as unnecessary and said the guiding principle of “no victor, no vanquished” must remain central to Nigeria’s unity.
He explained that the remembrance ceremony was meant to honour all Nigerians who lost their lives in the service of the nation, both during and after the war.
“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.”
The governor acknowledged the sacrifices of widows, widowers and families of fallen heroes, while also praising serving officers, particularly those deployed in Anambra State, for their role in sustaining peace and security.
Turning to the South-East, Soludo lamented the low participation of Anambra indigenes in Nigeria’s security institutions, describing it as a damaging form of self-marginalisation. He encouraged youths to see military and security service as a pathway to national relevance and inclusion.
“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 engage with all national structures.
On the lingering security issues in the zone, the governor called on individuals involved in violent agitation to renounce violence 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.”
Soludo also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security chiefs operating in Anambra for their ongoing efforts, expressing optimism that the prolonged security challenges facing the state would soon be brought under control.
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