State of Emergency: Anambra gov reports Malami to Buhari over ‘unfortunate’ statement

Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano has tackled the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over threat to declare state of emergency in the state.

NewsWireNGR had earlier reported that while speaking in Abuja on Thursday after the virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Malami said; “When our national security is attacked, and the sanctity of our constitutionally guaranteed democracy is threatened, no possibility is ruled out.

“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”.

Reacting, Obiano after his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in his official residence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the president was not in support of declaration of emergency rule in the state.

Obiano describing the minister’s statement as “unfortunate” said he reported him to the president and the president assured he was only interested in a free and fair election in the November 6 governorship exercise in the state, citing the example of his (president’s) numerous attempts to win the election until his fourth try.

He said that the President warned against any political party using intimidation in the forthcoming election in the state.

Obiano wondered why the Attorney General of the Federation had not contemplated the imposition of emergency rule in northern states where he said there had been a lot of killings.

He said he would call the Attorney General to express his mind to him over the suggestion as he maintained that apart from the recent security crisis, Anambra state had been the most peaceful in the southeast.

The governor also rejected assertions that members of the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in the State House of Assembly had defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying that what happened was that the members were given N100 million each to join the APC.

He said they have, however, remained in APGA and that the party was sure of victory as a result of its track records in the state.