Anambra state government has rejected proposed state of emergency by the federal government in the state. Abubakar Malami, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation had on Wednesday said the Buhari administration was considering all options in resolving the spate of violence and insecurity rocking the Governor Willy Obiano-led state.
Recall that Dr Chike Akunyili, the widower of late Dora Akuiyi, former Director General of NAFDAF and Minister of Information under President Yar’Adua was killed, last week, by suspected members of IPOB.
Speaking on the spate of killings in the state Malami said “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.
But rebuffing the nation’s chief law officer, the Commissioner of Information in Anambra State, Don Adinuba, said it’s outrageous for the federal government to contemplate state of emergency as the solution to the problem rocking the state.
Adinuba who spoke on Channels Television, said it is inconceivable for the administration to consider the option when such action had not been taken in other states such as Kaduna, Borno, Zamfara where bandits and Boko haram terrorists are killing people.
Adinuba noted that despite the high killings in the North-West and North-East geopolitical zones, elections were held in the states.
He said similar violence has been witnessed in some South eastern states yet the federal government did not consider state of emergency those states.
Angry 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, (and) 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.
He said the state has remained peaceful until recently, adding that federal government’s action has political undertone.
“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,” Adinuba said.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN have rejected state of emergency as the lasting solution to the insecurity in the state, describing such action as premature.
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