In no uncertain terms, the Anambra State Government has kicked against the kite flown by the by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), that the Federal Government might declare a State of Emergency in Anambra to ensure that the November 6 governorship election in the state takes place.
According to the Commissioner of Information of State, Mr. Don Adinuba, Anambra has not witnessed the level of killings recorded in Kaduna, Borno, Zamfara and the other Northern states where bandits have murdered hundreds of innocent citizens in the last few months.
He observed that despite the number killings in the North-West and North-East geopolitical zones, elections were held in states.
Speaking on Channels Television, Adinuba said, “Nigerians are outraged by the threat by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
“Since the renewed violence in Anambra State which we believe is politically motivated, not more than 15 persons have been killed. How many persons have died in Borno, Niger, Kaduna, Yobe, Zamfara, even Imo, which is APC-controlled, Ebonyi, which is APC-controlled?
“Has anybody threatened emergency rule in any of these states?
“For the past seven years, Anambra has remained the safest state, most stable in Nigeria.
“We remain the only state in the whole country that for the past seven years, has not experienced one single bank robbery; what is going on is politically motivated and the declaration by the honourable Attorney-General of the Federation is a confirmation.”
The Commissioner observed that when killings took place in two states of the South-East geo-political zone administered by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)- Imo and Ebonyi – the Federal Government did not contemplate imposing emergency rule.
Everyday.ng reports that there has been renewed killings and violence in Anambra State, with the torching of security infrastructure and private homes; but the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday told journalists, the government will do everything possible to ensure the protection of lives and property in the State.
He noted that where the Federal government observes that the state government is unable to ensure democratic order and security of lives, it will not fail to step in.
His words: “When our national security is attacked, and the sanctity of our constitutionally guaranteed democracy is threatened, no possibility is ruled out.
“As a government, we have a responsibility to ensure the sustenance of our democratic order. As a government, we have a responsibility to provide security to life and properties.
“So, within the context of these constitutional obligations, of the government or the desire to establish democratic norms and order, there is no possibility that [state of emergency] is out ruled.
“The government will certainly do the needful in terms of ensuring that our elections are held in a Anambra in terms of ensuring necessary security is provided, and in terms of ensuring protection is accorded to lives and properties.
“So, what I’m saying in essence, no possibility is out ruled by government in terms of ensuring the sanctity of our democratic order, in terms of ensuring that our elections in Anambra holds, and you cannot out rule possibilities inclusive of the possibility of declaration or state of emergency where it is established, in essence, that there is a failure on the part of the state government to ensure the sanctity of security of lives, properties and democratic order.
“So, our position as a government is if these elections are going to hold, necessary security, in terms of democratic order, must certainly prevail for the purpose of this election.”
