Ndi Anambra, Shine Your Eyes.

“Truth crushed to earth shall rise again,” says American poet. Well…the truth has finally risen in Anambra State. Anyone who had wondered where the recent spate of killings in Anambra State had come from should look no more. The key is in the recent threat by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami to impose a state of emergency on Anambra State because of the recent eruptions of violence in parts of the state. Malami’s threat has provoked a storm.

All over Awka, the state capital, the question on everyone’s lips is “why Anambra?” And yes; why Anambra? What has happened in Anambra so far to make a state of emergency an immediate necessity? What stands Anambra out so much to prompt such excessive reaction from the Attorney General who has turned a blind eye to greater threats to national security in other states? Happily, the threat is over. President Buhari has disowned the idea of declaring a state of emergency in Anambra State. He made this clear in a meeting with Governor Obiano in Aso Rock Villa earlier today. And that is something to be really happy about.

We must thank President Buhari for keeping the record straight and disowning the threat from Malami. President Buhari had done what he rarely does. He has washed his hands off Malami and his ridiculous threat. But is the danger over? No! This development hints at something very sinister. The question is, how many brutal decisions have officers like Malami taken on behalf of Mr. President with neither consultation nor authorization? In the case of Anambra, it has always been whispered that Malami was in an unholy alliance with one of the candidates standing election. But no one believed that he would be bold enough to think of slamming a state of emergency on the state to help his ally. And this is why Ndi Anambra must be vigilant.

Indeed, Ndi Anambra must not underestimate the dark resolve of the invading legion. Malami is only their visible face. The desperation to take over Anambra State is a little over the kilter already. A certain neighbouring state has even been adopted as a lunch pad from where to overwhelm Anambra. Against good judgment, against fairness and all the silent protocols of peaceful co-existence, they have moved the sensitive materials for the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State to that same state. And the governor of that state was hoping to sit at the same table with governor Obiano at the last South East Governor’s Forum in Enugu to discuss the current security challenges in his state. How ironic!

Now, take this; the handwriting on the wall is clear. Ndi Anambra must remain vigilant. If these desperate politicians can go to the extent of considering the imposition of a state of emergency in a state that has been adjudged Nigeria’s safest state for eight years, they will stop at nothing to achieve their objective. Again, if they could go against the constitutional provisions for the declaration of a state of emergency and even misrepresent Mr President in pursuit of their narrow agenda, then there is a clear and present danger to the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State. There is an imminent threat to the sovereign will of the people of Anambra State.

Ndi Anambra mulunu anya ka azu!