LET THERE BE PEACE IN ANLO STATE

FOR many months now the Anlo State has been in the news because of a dispute over who should ascend the stool as Awoamefia. Lives have been lost, some people have fled Anloga for their dear lives and taken refuge in surrounding towns, economic activities have slowed down and a curfew has been imposed.
A heavy police presence maintained the uneasy calm, particularly when the curfew was imposed. Gradually, those who fled started returning to their homes and the dust started settling when assurances were given that no one would be molested for any reason.
During the heat of the chieftaincy dispute, factions developed. While some supported Torgbui Sir III, also known in private life as Mr Francis Nyonyo Agboada, as the legitimate heir to the Anlo Stool, others questioned his claim of legitimacy.
The Anlo State had become a house divided. Disintegration was in the offing.
Something concrete had to be done to defuse the mounting tension among a people who had hitherto been at peace with one another.
A measure proposed by the faction opposed to the installation of Mr Agboada demanded that he step down and a commission of enquiry set up to thoroughly examine the Anlo Stool issue with a view to finding amicable solutions.
The DAILY GRAPHIC added its voice and asked Mr Agboada not to place his personal ambition above the interest of the entire Anlo State. Mr Agboada “has finally renounced his claim to the Anlo Stool”, as we reported in our Monday issue. For that singular action, it is our considered opinion that Mr Agboada deserves glowing commendation, although we concede that if this gesture had come earlier, precious lives would not have been lost.
We submit that it takes courage to take this kind of decision in life. He did not say that he would lose face if he stepped down. Certainly his supporters would be disappointed, but Mr Agboada would rather risk disappointing his supporters than preside over a divided house.
Again, his singular action will avert any more loss of lives. We sincerely hope that the peace will now hold and that neither he nor any other person will overtly or covertly do anything whatsoever to mar the peace of the Anlo State.
There are vital lessons for all of us from what has transpired in Anlo in the recent past. We all need to ‘look before we leap’, as the saying goes, especially so if we are taking far-reaching decisions that may even touch the lives of fellow humans.
We also need to heed advice, as Mr Agboada has done. We commend him, once again, for the courage to step aside when he realised that his actions had caused pain and anguish to some people, as well as polarised the Anlo State.
Mr Agboada wants to devote his time to the pursuit of development projects. We sincerely hope that he will stick to his resolution and not get side-tracked.
There are useful lessons to be learnt from Mr Agboada’s gesture by people in areas where there are chieftaincy disputes.
Let’s give peace a chance, not only in the Anlo State but throughout the country — wherever there is conflict.