Insecurity: Anambra Faces State Of Emergency Ahead Of Nov 6 Guber

A state of emergency necessitated by insecurity is looming in southeast state of Anambra, the federal government hinted Wednesday.

The attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, disclosed this in Abuja during an interaction with newsmen after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the measure was to ensure a hitch-free Nov 6 governorship election 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 lives and property.

“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 is out ruled.

“The government will certainly do the needful in terms of ensuring that our elections are held in Anambra in terms of ensuring necessary security is provided, and in terms of ensuring protection is accorded to lives and property.

“What I’m saying in essence, no possibility is outruled 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 out rule possibilities inclusive of the possibility of declaration of a 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, property and the democratic order.

“So, we resolve to have these elections. The elections are going to hold and no possibilities are ruled out in terms of ensuring the provision of security, for the purpose of the conduct of the election, as well as Anambra is concerned.”

THE WHISTLER reports that the buildup to the election is tense following increasing killings and destruction of property in the state.