The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, has called on members of the Reggae Cultural Organisation to support Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s value reformation agenda to promote lasting peace and responsible conduct in the state.
Mefor made the call when members of the organisation, led by Pupa Macson Justice Nwasike, National Kinky Muan, who represented the Anambra State High Ras, Pupa Mikky Ajuorah, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Awka.
The commissioner described peace as the foundation of development, stressing that no society could make meaningful progress without it. He said reggae music had historically promoted peace, justice and unity, citing legendary musicians Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, whose messages of love and social justice influenced his generation.
He said the Soludo administration was committing more than 30 per cent of the state’s resources to peace-building through measures including the Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025, which established Operation Udo Ga-Achị and Agunechemba.
According to him, although previously troubled areas in Awka and other parts of the state had been reclaimed, pockets of resistance remained in some locations.
Mefor stressed that peace, security and justice must work together to create an enabling environment for investment and development. However, he expressed concern over practices undermining peace and economic growth, including multiple sales of land, the adulteration of palm oil and other products with dangerous chemicals, and the growing pursuit of wealth without legitimate effort.
He also condemned fraudulent money-making practices, including fake money rituals popularly associated with okite, and the ostentatious display of wealth without legitimate sources of income.
The commissioner maintained that wealth acquired without work was unsustainable, adding that such practices contradicted core Igbo values of uche (wisdom), uchu (diligence) and egwu Chukwu (fear of God).
He disclosed that the ministry had assembled a coalition of willing partners and developed a blueprint, which had been submitted to the governor, for an ethical and moral rebirth in Anambra.
According to him, the initiative would tackle cultism, drug abuse, Yahoo Plus and other forms of social misconduct, while promoting positive values among residents.
Mefor urged reggae musicians to deploy their music and cultural influence to promote the government’s value reformation campaign, particularly its emphasis on peace, justice, hard work and responsible living.
Earlier, Pupa Nwasike said the Reggae Cultural Organisation was committed to promoting peace, unity and equality through reggae music.
He noted that reggae had been used globally to advance social justice and solidarity, including campaigns for the release of former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Nwasike pledged the organisation’s partnership with the state government in promoting peace and positive values. He also announced that the group’s Unification Jamming event would hold in Anambra on November 14.
