By Emma Ogbuehi
President Muhammadu Buhari may not have a hand in the plot by some officials of the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Anambra State before the November 6 governorship election.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, threatened on Wednesday that the Federal Government will declare a state of emergency in Anambra if the violence in the state continues.
He made the threat at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja.
His declaration was greeted with immediate uproar from across the Southeast.
But the Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano disclosed on Thursday that the threat to declare the state of emergency was not President Buhari’s idea.
Obiano disclosed this to State House Correspondents after a meeting with Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said he reported the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to the President on the matter.
According to him: “Well, that’s a very unfortunate comment by the Attorney-General, Malami. Very, very unfortunate. I also reported that to the President and this is not in the books for the president because he knows that Anambra has been the safest state in Nigeria for seven years plus.
“These invaders from outside Anambra State, from the neighbouring towns, we are going to deal with them. We’re already working, there’s nothing.
“Even to contemplate state of emergency is unfortunate, look at what is happening in the north; they kill dozens every day. Because less than 15 people were killed in Anambra in two weeks is that a reason for somebody to call for a state of emergency?
“That’s a very unfortunate comment by Malami. I will call him to express reservation on those kinds of comments, he shouldn’t try that.
“Anambra is doing well and don’t forget that Malami is on the National Campaign Committee for the APC candidate. So, if that’s their strategy, then they failed already.
“Come to the ballot box, APGA will win and win hands down. They are trying to see how they can destabilise us. No, APC has no room in Anambra, there’s no party called APC in Anambra. Anambra is APGA
“I just finished meeting with the President and I mentioned it and the President didn’t suggest that. The President is firm, he wants a peaceful election in Anambra State.
“He wants a free and fair election in Anambra State, that’s the President for you. But if people in his party are going around making insinuations, using his name to do things, the President clearly told me that he does not support that full stop.
“The comments by Malami are very unfortunate. He shouldn’t have made that assertion at all because we don’t have any challenge in Anambra.
“What happened for the period of two weeks is just a flash in the pan. Anambra has always been the safest state in Nigeria under my leadership for seven and a half years, so this little hiccup will not warrant his comment there.
“Why didn’t he make those comments in Kaduna, in Jos, Imo State, in Zamfara? Why is he making that kind of assertion and we have an election by the corner? There’s no reason to make that assertion.”