The Muhammadu Buhari regime says talks of invocation of a state of emergency in Anambra State by Attorney General Abubarkar Malami is in order.
The government also brushed off criticisms of the move, claiming that the threats posed by separatist agitators IPOB were more grievous than those of bandits in northern states.
Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, expressed this sentiment on Thursday.
“In the last couple of weeks, IPOB had imposed sit-at-home on the citizens, they did not allow people to go to schools, markets and there are also high profile killings.
“The AGF said yesterday that the government will do whatever it takes to restore law and order in Anambra state and the entire South East to ensure that symbols and pillars of democracy are not tampered with.
“The forthcoming election in Anambra state is one of the pillars of democracy”
“Those who are criticising the AGF on this, have they thought for one minute what will happen if the election does not take place in Anambra State on Nov. 6?” Mr Mohammed asked.
On Wednesday, Mr Malami, threatened that the Buhari regime would impose a state of emergency in Anambra State if the security situation does not improve.
However, governor of Anambra, Willie Obiano, on Thursday, after his meeting with Mr Buhari described such suggestions as “unfortunate.” He argued that northern states which had suffered more violence had not been threatened with invocation of a state of emergency.
But the information minister reckons that what was happening in Anambra state presently was not similar to the situation in bandits-ravaged states such as Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina.
“It is a disingenuous argument to say that they have killed more people in Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna than they killed in Anambra state,” Mr Mohammed argues.
“What is happening in Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger is criminality and the government will not condone it.”
The minister added that if there is any need to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna States, the government would not hesitate to do so.