The Anambra State government has said that the state has in its developmental process gone past the stage of violent politics. It was reacting to what it described as a “hate broadcast” on social media by members of a political party.
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information & Pubic Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, the political party, which he did not name, viciously attacked all presidents general, all traditional rulers, all bishops and other religious leaders in the state for collaborating with the state government to make Anambra a model in rapid development.
“There is hardly any sacrilege which the broadcast does not accuse these highly respected people of committing. They, therefore, urge Ndi Anambra to rise violently not only against the personages but also against the government.
“The broadcast was informed by the impending 2019 general election. The only reason why members of a party could brazenly make a hate speech like this is the certainty of its resounding defeat in the general election, which they cannot survive. It is regrettable that some politicians have chosen to become desperados just because of an imminent electoral defeat,” said the statement.
It explained that the same party members wrote a fake news report on Saturday, February 7, alleging that Governor Willie Obiano has directed Anambra voters to kill any person who fails to vote for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari next Saturday.
When the report was written initially, the statement further said, their bloggers from Anambra State refused to distribute it because, apart from being unconscionable, it falsely paints their state in lurid colours.
“The writers now approached school dropouts who are not indigenes of the state to distribute it. It is ironic enough that the forged report was published on the social media on the day the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi was honouring Governor Obiano for principle-centered leadership which took into consideration his commitment to peace, order, healthy pluralism, sacredness of life and dignity of the human person,” Adinuba stated.
Anambra State, he said, has in its developmental process past the stage of violent politics.
“We held a gubernatorial election on November 19, 2017, and there was not even a single incident of violence before, during or after the election. We are the only state with this record in Nigeria’s history. We are Nigeria’s safest and most peaceful state. We are also the most socially harmonious, as evidenced by the presence of leading members of all political parties during the second inauguration last March 18 of Governor Obiano who swept the polls in each of the 21 local government areas in the state in the gubernatorial vote,” the statement explained.
The commissioner explained that the people of the state are satisfied that the handful of politicians inciting violence are all members of the very party which brought so much misery to Ndi Anambra not long ago. Saying that the people of the state have resolved never to return to that era, which was marked by the kidnap of a sitting governor and a lot of mayhem, that is why they voted overwhelmingly for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and have never had it so good.
Adinuba concluded by saying that the government will continue with its strategy of constructive engagement with members of different parties at national and local levels, which has brought so much peace, stability and tranquility as well as progress to the state.
“It requires us to treat every person with decorum regardless of political differences. We will continue with our policy of inclusion and solidarity which makes each and every one of us see any other person as his or her brother. May we remain our brother’s and sister’s keeper. God bless Anambra State, the Light of the Nation”.