Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has taken the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) to the cleaners for suggesting that the Federal Government might declare a state of emergency in the state.

He said; “That is a very unfortunate comment by the Attorney-General. Very, very unfortunate. I also reported that to the President and this is not in the books for the President because he knows that Anambra has been the safest state in Nigeria for seven years plus.”

“These (are) invaders from outside Anambra State, from the neighbouring towns. We are going to deal with them. We are already working.”

“Even to contemplate state of emergency is unfortunate. Look at what is happening in the North; they kill dozens every day. Because less than 15 people were killed in Anambra in two weeks, is that a reason for somebody to call for a state of emergency?”

“That is a very unfortunate comment by Malami. I will call him to express reservation on those kind of comments, he shouldn’t try that.”

“Anambra is doing well and don’t forget that Malami is on the National Campaign Committee for the APC candidate. So, if that’s their strategy, then they have failed already.”

“Come to the ballot box, APGA will win and win hands down. They are trying to see how they can destabilise us. No, APC has no room in Anambra, there’s no party called APC in Anambra. Anambra is APGA.”

“What happened for the period of two weeks is just a flash in the pan. Anambra has always been the safest state in Nigeria under my leadership for seven and a half years, so this little hiccup will not warrant his comment.”

“Why didn’t he make those comments in Kaduna, in Jos, Imo, Zamfara? Why is he making that kind of assertion and we have an election by the corner? There’s no reason to make that assertion.”

“We are doing well already. Part of the reasons I came here is to brief some security agencies on the efforts I have made and to solicit some support in some other areas – the Army, the Navy, the Police in particular. The President also noted that and will give further directives.”

“We are getting more boots on ground, we are getting more equipment and I believe in less than two weeks, all these things will be over.”

“We will overwhelm and conquer all these miscreants that came from other states nearby to harass Anambra people. Let me stop at saying that they are from neighbouring states.”

“When you have malaria and you have cancer, they are two different treatments. What we have in Anambra is malaria, so you don’t have to use a sledge-hammer to kill that.”

“We are not near, in terms of confusion and security challenges, to Zamfara and others, so they are not good examples.”

“The Army, Police, Navy, other arms-bearing people should consider the quantum of force to use. As a strategist, you don’t sit down here and order the army to carry the whole army in Nigeria to Anambra.”

“In summary, what I am saying is what is happening in Anambra and this election must hold, the crisis and challenges are far from being close to challenges in the North-West and in the North-East, as the case may be.”

“They are not going to use an overwhelming force, that is what we are saying. But use the force required to be able to get the job done.”

“The guarantee we are giving for this election is that this election will hold, we will have enough security to back the people and APGA’s candidate, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, will be the next governor of Anambra State.”

“What you asked about the separatists, the answer I’m giving you is that I don’t know what you mean by leadership failure.”

“My state is doing very well and as a matter of fact, you are very aware of my international cargo and passenger airport, the best in Nigeria, second-longest runway after Lagos, 3.7 kilometres, tallest tower built with concrete all through and to be commissioned very soon.”

“There is also the International Conference Centre. We have leadership. So, that’s not the issue at all, but let me say this again, the comment by the Attorney-General is unfortunate. He shouldn’t have made that comment because there’s no basis to make that.”

“Whatever it is, I have not had challenges with whoever is causing trouble, no matter who he is, we are going to flush him out. That’s all I can tell you.”

“I just finished meeting with the President and I mentioned it and the President didn’t suggest that. The President is firm, he wants a peaceful election in Anambra State. He wants a free and fair election in Anambra State; that is the President for you.”

“But if people in his party are going around making insinuations, using his name to do things, the President clearly told me that he does not support that, full stop.”

“Any time, any day, there is no other party in Anambra, only APGA. There’s no APC. But let me tell you, it’s a ploy. Those people that went to APC went there because they were induced, they are still APGA, they are giving us information on what is happening in APC.”

“I’m not ready to make an assertion on what I do not know about. I’m talking about Anambra and I told you that the incidents of the last few weeks are miscreants that came from neighbouring states bordering Anambra and we know them and we are going to flush them out.”

“By the way, you are aware that I have put a bounty of N20 million for anybody that will give us information that will lead to the arrest of these miscreants.”

“I believe that N20 million is good enough for people to give us information and as soon as we get that information, we are going to deal ruthlessly with whoever those people are.”

“What I can tell you is that I’m emboldened by meeting with the President, today, to confirm to you that Mr President is a fair man, he believes in free and fair election, he doesn’t want intimidation.”

“He used that word to me; he said he does not want anybody to intimidate anybody, that he respects everybody. He gave me an example that he ran for presidency three times, that it was only on the fourth time he won.”

“So why should people be forced to do what they don’t want to do? That is what members of his party are doing, the President does not support that. I can tell you that.”

“I came to brief the President on a few things. First, I thanked Mr. President for completing one segment of Umunya to Awka Road and I pleaded with him to also commence work on the other segment so that the road will be fully done.”

“I also thanked him for making Anambra an oil producing state with 15 wells, commended him for the support he has given my administration all these years. You know, by March 17, it will be all over and I will finish my second term.”

“I also commended Mr. President, for his forthrightness and the continual support with respect to election matters.”

“After briefing the President on the state of political activities in Anambra, he reassured one more time that election will hold in Anambra State and that the election will be free and fair.”

“The President has always made that point and to testify to that, he told me the same during my re-election and APGA won 21 over 21.”