By Ezeocha Nzeh
National Security Adviser to the president, Major General Babagana Monguno rtd., has warned the members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to change their most nf and withdraw the sit -at – home order t issued ahead of the November 6 governorship election in Anambrs state, as it would end up as an effort in futility.
Monguno, who spoke at the emergency meeting of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Inter Agency Consultation Committee on Election Security (ICCES) warned that the security agencies will ensure a smooth conduct of the Anambra election, while come indicting them selves in a professional manner.
The NSA, who tasked the security agencies to deal with any destabilisation agents on the election day, noted that the federal government takes the November 6 governorship election as a crucial assignment, adding that the agencies are poised for another all important national assignment
“We all know how important this exercise is not only for those of us who are supposed to ensure a hitch free exercise, but for the people who are expected to vote. This is what we know to be the greatest optimization of what every citizen should aspire to.
“It is the number one legitimate expectation and right of every citizen and we must not deny anybody that right to exercise his civic duty, not just to exercise it, but to exercise it in an atmosphere devoid of rancor devoid of apprehension, tension, and all those factors that lead to suspicion and people ending up in courts or even into violence.
“This is what we need to avoid, just like the Chairman said, the two elections that were held, Edo and Ondo. We need to do even better than that, in order to really earn confidence in society. Now, for those of us in security, we have already done most of what we’re supposed to do. All the law enforcement agencies, security agencies, etc, have been charged to conduct themselves in a manner that will command the general widespread respect of all the people of Anambra state and by extension, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He noted that security agencies have been charged to exhibit the highest level of professionalism, patience, perseverance, as well as self restraint, adding that they have also been told to operate within the confines of the law, and not to go out on and exhibit tendencies that would jeopardize the exercise.
“I want to reassure the general public that the security agencies are going to do everything within their power to ensure that the people of Anambra State undergo this exercise without any incident.
“In the same vein we want to offer a word of brotherly advice to our brothers and sisters in Anambra state who may want to use means, methods that are unorthodox and that are unusual to destabilize, an already delicate situation to please think again.
“We are all eager to achieve results in this election that will be acceptable to everybody. I don’t think it will be helpful to anyone to go out and ignite something that might cause pain for the people of Anambra State, the good people of Anambra State the peace loving people, under whatever disguised, please think, again, because the law enforcement agencies in as much as they would want to operate in accordance with the requirements of their profession, will not sit by idly and allow people to start looting, destroying public property, and resorting to not just intimidation, terrorizing people, possibly, and even homicide. This will not be accepted.
“Law enforcement agencies have been asked to watch out for such elements. There’s no need embarking on an exercise of self delusion, futility or some form of tangle. Please, I’m appealing to you all, stay within your wards, your local government and let us have a peaceful election, for any rogue element that decides to behave in a manner that will tie our collective institutions in a very dark color will be brought to justice in accordance with the rules of those institutions.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of INEC, professor Mahmoud Yakubu, noted that the commission has completed 12 out of the 14 programs ahead of the election,
He also expressed the commission’s readiness to conduct the election, which he reaffirmed will hold on November 6.
