The Federal Government has warned that it will impose a ‘state-of-emergency’ in Anambra ahead of the governorship election due to the incessant attacks and killings that have plagued the state in recent times.
Speaking after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami said that the move is to ensure a seamless election in the state.
The meeting was chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“When our national security is attacked, and the sanctity of our constitutionally guaranteed democracy is threatened, no possibility is ruled out.” He said.
“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, 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 hold.
“And you cannot rule out the possibility of declaration of 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.”
This comes amidst the wave of insecurity ravaging the state and the south-east region in general.
In the last couple of weeks, at least 10 persons have been killed in various attacks across Anambra.
On Tuesday the South-East Governors Forum said the ‘Ebube Agu’ security outfit will be established in all five states before the end of the year.
The governors said this as part of their eight-point agenda during a meeting that took place at the Enugu State Government House.
“The meeting agreed that the South-East Ebube Agu security outfit be launched in all the southeast states and laws passed in various southeast states before the end of 2021,” the communique read.
The security outfit was established in April as part of plans to checkmate the rising unrest in the region.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum David Umahi, has decried the degeneration of what started as a cry against marginalisation into violence in the region.
He, however, described the agitations for Biafra as madness, saying that most elites in the region do not want it.
According to him, all they want is to be treated equally like other regions in the country.
“Every elite in the south-east is not desirous of Biafra. We don’t want Biafra. We only want to be treated equally like other regions in Nigeria,” Governor Umahi said Wednesday, on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
“So, this idea of Biafra, Biafra is madness”.
