By Saidu Idris
365Daily -The Senator Andy Uba Governorship Campaign Organisation, SAUGCO has urged Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, to take practical steps to end the killings in the state instead of engaging in buck passing.
SAUGCO’s Director of Media and Publicity, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, in a statement issued on Thursday, October 7, 2021, wondered why the governor did not take actions like his counterparts in the Southeast to nip the insecurity in the bud.
He was reacting to the state government’s reply to the FG’s threat to impose emergency rule in the state due to rising insecurity.
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba said in the statement: “Is the number of victims of the politically motivated violence in Anambra State anything near what the nation has seen even in such states as Imo and Ebonyi controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congres(APC)? Why hasn’t Malami considered a state of emergency in these APC-controlled states?”
Ogene stated: “When Gov. Obiano speaks about past security challenges in neighbouring Imo and Ebonyi states, the question to ask is: didn’t governors of both states take urgent, practical steps that restored normalcy?
“When only two days ago, on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 governors of the South east met at Enugu to seek solutions to rising insecurity, especially in Anambra, why was Obiano the only governor not in attendance?
“Why did he rather choose to go dancing on a campaign romp at Otuocha, Anambra East LGA of the state, on the same day other serious governors gathered to seek a regional solution to a problem most prevalent in his state; in spite of the fact that he is not a candidate in next month’s governorship election?
“In deed, where are the surveillance cameras, drones, helicopters, horses and dogs which Gov. Obiano claimed to have bought to tackle crime and criminality in the state?
“As a matter of fact, it is high time the governor offers explanation about the whereabouts of these security paraphernalia, especially against the widespread believe among the citizenry that most of the items have been sold and the dogs and horses used as culinary delights.
“In simple language, the problem with Anambra is that Gov. Obiano has long abandoned governance and is more concerned about what he can grab for himself. Seeking, therefore, to whimsically put the blame on politics, or the Attorney General of the Federation is not only disingenuous, but downright false.
“Were there elections in sight when Awka, the state capital, Ihiala and Okija areas was turned into killing fields, in fierce cult clashes; when the commercial city of Onitsha was overwhelmed by criminals and jungle justice resurfaced; or when worshippers in Ozubulu were massacred one Sunday morning, and their killers still at large; or when the whole Omabala part of the state was engulfed in bitter inter communal clashes that has affected no fewer than 10 communities?
“In all of these instances, Gov. Obiano simply refused to take charge – a beaten pathway he is still treading.
“As we noted in our last statement dated October 3, 2021, instead of seeking ways of making restitution to the people of Anambra who have been misgoverned over the last seven years and half, leading to key stalwarts and functionaries of both the party and government leaving in droves to join the APC, Governor Obiano, rather, refuses to act, lending credence to claims in several quarters that he does not want the November 6, 2021 governorship election to hold.
“While the consideration of a state of emergency by the Federal Government may not be hilarious for any democrat, let’s equally conscientiously state that the government has the primary responsibility of protecting lives and property of the people, especially when the governor has obviously abdicated his duties and gone to sleep in the day.
“It suffices to say that the state of emergency being mulled is consequent upon the docility of the Anambra government to secure its territory and protect the people.
“It is still not late for the governor to retrace his steps and act like the governor he is – well, until March 17, 2022 when by the grace of God, Senator Andy Uba would succeed him.”