BY EDMOND ODOK – Amid subtle threats by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast zone, the Federal Government says disruptive activities by separatist organisations against the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra state will not be condoned.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), who declared the government’s stand in Abuja on Thursday, said there will be zero tolerance for persons or groups whose activities are geared towards disrupting the smooth and hitch-free conduct of polls in the State.
Speaking at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, (ICCES), Mungono said given recent activities by IPOB in the region, the government would not stay aloof and watch criminal elements take laws into their hands.
Represented by Sanusi Galadima, the NSA; “With the prevalence of security threats occasioned by different dissident separatist groups in the Southern region of the country, who are bent on scuttling efforts of government in achieving national cohesion and undermining the democratic processes in the country, the Federal Government of Nigeria will not tolerate any group or persons planning to impede smooth conduct of elections.”
He said though government fully acknowledges the constitutional rights of citizens to freely express their legitimate grievances within the ambits of the law, it would “not abdicate its constitutional responsibility of securing lives and property as well as a secure environment for citizens to pursue their legitimate means of livelihood.”
According to the retired Army General, robust security deployments would be made to counter any threats and ensuring peaceful and hitch-free conduct of the elections come November 6, 2021.
Addressing the stakeholders’ meeting, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said adequate arrangements have been made to replace materials damaged or lost during the attack on its office in Akwa, the Anambra State capital.
He also assured that measures have been taken to rebuild the physical structures and facilities destroyed and expressed confidence that everything would be completed before the election date.
Recalled that some unknown criminal elements had in May this year, carried out series of attacks destroying government facilities, including razing the State headquarters of INEC in Awka.
Though IPOB was accused by the Nigeria Police hierarchy, the separatist group had promptly distanced its members from the attacks, insisting that there were high-wired plans in certain quarters to further criminalised the group’s activities by some State actors.
With the election date fast approaching, there have been mounting fears that IPOB may direct Anambra residents to sit-at-home and boycott the November 6 gubernatorial poll.
