TheCable

The Anambra traditional rulers council says there is no reason for the federal government to declare emergency rule in the state.

There has been a recent increase in attacks in Anambra, leading to killings and destruction of property.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), had said declaring a state of emergency will ensure that the November 6 governorship election in the state takes place.

But in a statement on Friday, Nnaemeka Achebe, chairman of the council, said “life is normal” in Anambra, adding that a state of emergency cannot be declared in Anambra over “12 deaths”.

Achebe said some northern states of the country have had “thousands” of deaths, yet elections have held in those places.

“It cannot by any stretch of the imagination be justified to contemplate emergency rule in the state on the strength of the 12 violent deaths in the last two or three weeks,” he said.

“States like Zamfara, Kaduna, Yobe, Plateau, Niger, Benue, Katsina and Adamawa have lost thousands of people in recent times, yet successful elections have been held in them. The security crises in Niger and Borno have been such that mission aircraft were shot down there. Whole communities are occupied by bandits and terrorists.

“In contrast, life is normal in Anambra state. All schools, markets and businesses are open. A lot of petrol stations operate for 24 hours. People engage in regular social activities like marriages, funerals and title taking.

“Thousands of vehicles move from places like Onitsha to all parts of the country and beyond day and night without incidents. Political parties are still campaigning for the impending gubernatorial election, mobilising thousands of people to rallies.

“What the federal government has to do is to improve the security situation in Anambra state.

“The honorable attorney-general and minister of justice has to perish the thought of a state of emergency in Anambra.”