As the ongoing public crusade of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB against the conduct of the Anambra state gubernatorial election bid to hold on November this year gathers momentum, the security arms in the state has reacted by stating those calling cancellation of the election are jokers and wanted their names to be announced or noticed.
In a press statement issued on behalf of other service chiefs by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Baba Umar and made available to this Platform, they acknowledged that; “our attention has been drawn that some misguided elements have perfected plans to disrupt the relative peace through streets protests and to declare that the Anambra state governorship election scheduled for November, 2017 will not hold.
“This is to achieve their selfish political aggrandizement thereby threatening democratic processes causing serious security threats in Anambra State in particular, and the Country at large”, the security agencies stated.
Adding that the move to disrupt the proposed governorship election in the state by the freedom fighters remains unacceptable and would not be tolerated, the State Commissioner said in as much as the Command and her sister agencies respect the Right of individuals to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, they would however not fold their arms and watch the Indigenous People of Biafra and other pro-Biafra groups to truncate the peace in the State which the law enforcement agencies, according to Mr. Baba Umar are toiling day and night assiduously to maintain.
“It is to be noted the governorship election has been scheduled for November, 2017 by the body responsible for elections in Nigeria and that is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and is the only competent authority that can make any pronouncement regarding the conduct of elections”, the CP noted.
To this end, the security agencies wish to Assuring Ndi-Anambra that the election shall hold as scheduled peacefully and successfully, the first policeman in the state on behalf of all other service chiefs threatened that they will not hesitate to deal decisively with any individual or groups under any guise that will disrupt public peace.
Caping it all, they enjoyed the members of the public to disregard such pronouncement coming from the pro-Biafra groups, insisting that everybody should go about their lawful businesses even as the security agencies further assured Ndi Anambra and all other residents in the state of their readiness to protect lives and properties.