The people of Anambra have gathered to decide who becomes their next state Governor today (Saturday), and there is obvious fear that the election could be disturbed by violence. The forelisted happenings amid fears of bomb blast in the state.

Some residents were seen gathered in several groups to discuss, timorously what the outcome of the election might be.

It was also observed that security personnels had been beefed up at public places with units of well armed policemen stationed at strategic locations.

Residents of the state are in fear of violence so they refuses coming out to vote , Ifeanyi Ogockukwu,a resident from Ihiala Local Government Area, said, “I will remain indoors tomorrow (today) until I notice that everywhere is calm because I do not know what it will look like.

“But I will come out and vote if everywhere is calm. I advise others to also come out and vote for the candidate of their choice. They should not sell their votes for anything.”

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Anambra State chapter, during an emergency congress, also expressed their fear that something evil might befall the state in the poll.

NUJ communiqué, partly reads, “That the Council views with concern the unusually heavy presence of security operatives in the state in the build-up to the election, noting that such could lead to unnecessary tension and may jeopardise peaceful conduct of the poll and possibly dissuade voters from coming out to exercise their franchise.”

The tension in the state was further exacerbated by the, Indigenous People of Biafra, which issued a fresh threat and prediction that the Anambra governorship election might be bloody.

IPOB had advised the people of the state to remain indoors to avoid being victims of bomb blast that could occur during the poll.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Mr. Joshak Habila, stopped the threat by IPOB, insisting that the people should come out and vote any without fear.

The chief spokesman for the pro-Biafra group acussed the security agencies, the army, police and the Department of State Services in particular, that they had planted explosive devices at strategic places all over the state, waiting to set them up during the election, to justify the Federal Government’s claim that the group is a terrorist organisation.

IPOB spokesman, “We gather(ed) that the Nigerian military is now planting explosive devices in all strategic places in Anambra State to justify their evil plan against the people of Biafra.

“The Nigerian Government and her security operatives especially, the Nigerian army and police, including the DSS, have lost the bid to label IPOB a terrorist organisation among the civilised nations. So, they have resorted to crude evidence-planting as they did with their so-called imported double-barrelled hunting guns at Apapa Wharf.

“Chief of Army Staff, General Buratai and his military hierarchy are desperately using every and any available strategy to justify their actions against IPOB family members in Biafraland particularly in Anambra State because of our boycott threat.

“We are warning every indigenous person of Biafra to be wary of tomorrow’s election in Anambra State. Every man, woman and child should remain indoors because Nigerian security operatives have planted military-grade explosives at key locations in Anambra State to kill and maim as many people as possible.

“Stay in your homes with your doors locked because tomorrow will be very bloody for anyone that ventures outside,” Powerful stressed while insisting that the IPOB was not a terror organisation.

He added, “IPOB, under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, remains a non-violent and peaceful freedom fighting organisation, irrespective of the continued attack on us by the Nigerian Government and her security operatives, especially the army, police and the DSS.”

Dismissing the IPOB’s statement, Mr Habila said, “There is no cause to fear. (In) virtually everywhere, space, you will find police officers and other security agents prepared. I want to assure those who are getting scared; do not believe that something is pursuing you when nothing is pursuing you.

“We guarantee your safety and ask that you come out tomorrow (today) and vote so that you can choose the man you want to be at the helm of affairs. There is no cause to fear.”

“I am of the opinion that the threat, which was put through, was just a dummy; it was just a script written and rehearsed. But I think that it has failed because it has not been played.

“It was never played during the campaign. I do not think that anybody will go and dust those things and play them anymore. If there is anyone, then it is unfortunate.

“But I want to assure you that they were just antics; and that is why I say, vote and live, but not vote and die.”

Habila said today at the INEC office in Awka that the restriction of movement would be binding on every one except groups and individuals accredited to monitor voting.

“Tell all VIPs that they cannot be accompanied by uniform personnel because that also will intimidate others. People are expected to walk a short distance, cast their votes and go back home.

“No VIP, no government official, no individual should put onto themselves the responsibility of monitoring, except the press and accredited observers. International and national observers will be given an opportunity,” he pointed out.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations said that the police is only be concerned about ensuring security of lives and property.

“We are not dictating to INEC. The police are only interested in security. Why would the police tell INEC what to do? So, you think I would go and tell INEC what they should do about the election; has it ever happened?

“Do you believe that one? Do you know who these people (INEC heads) are? Some of them are professors and technocrats. Then you would dictate to them; it is not possible. Is it with a gun?

“Ours is to ensure security and not to dictate to INEC. This is one of the dummies they (politicians) want to sell. That is a very cheap propaganda intending to discourage people from exercising their franchise and defending their votes. Like I said earlier, it can never happen and it is not possible,” Habila noted.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has denied the rumour that some of its personnel are been compromised by politicians to interfere with the credibility of the election in the State.

There had been rumour that the commission deployed additional ad hoc workers to certain locations in order to give advantage to a party or candidate.

But the state Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Leo Nkedife, has said, “INEC is not in any way compromised. The issue is that we do not have enough corps members in Anambra State. So, that necessitated us to go to neighbouring states to source for corps members to complement.

“At the stakeholders’ forum, that issue was raised. They said that corps members from outside should not go to a particular local government area and we have effected that. So, INEC is not in any way compromised. It is totally false.”

“We have even made provisions for their feeding at the RAC (Registration Area Centres). So, I think their welfare is well taken care of and we have warned them not to compromise their positions,” Nkedife added.

Source: JournalNG

http://journalng.com/2017/11/18/bomb-scare-anambra-prior-election/

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