For peace in Anambra
SIR: For sometimes, we members of Pan Ndigbo National Forum have watched developments at Anambra State which the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described as a family affair, but now it is the whole state that is burning and not the party hence we cannot fold our hands and watch the political situation deteriorate beyond the present intolerable level.
Properties lost in the latest round of crises include the Government House, Radio/TV stations, ANSEIC, Government Lodge, Women Development Centre, The State Judiciary, State Assembly, State Ikenga Hotel, vehicles and several private properties and about 25 persons dead.
That the Nigeria Police could not do anything to help save lives and properties during the whole incident evidenced some degree of connivance on their part. Most indigenes now live in neighbouring states due to fear and lack of trust in the security agencies. We have also noted that all the properties destroyed belonged to either the local or state government, while all Federal Government properties are intact.
Since the civil war the state has not witnessed this degree of destruction visited on it by the hoodlums and PDP hirelings. We call on the Federal Government to quicken its steps in seeing how to assist the state. The National Emergency Relief Fund should as an interim measure release materials to assist the needy in the state.
It is also time for south east governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to look into the problem instead of leaving it to Governor Sam Egwu alone, since the imbroglio and mayhem have assumed a wider dimension as an attack on the whole Igbo nation. The National Assembly should ensure that they get at least the sum of N50 billion incorporated in the appropriation bill for the 2005 budget to assist in reconstruction works and compensation for both private and public properties vandalised, since it is the constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government to ensure the security of lives and property. The level of destruction is 100 times more than that of Plateau which got N2 billion from the National Assembly.
We remind all that what is happening in Anambra State can happen in any other state.
We call on the PDP headquarters to put its Anambra house in order, and they should organise independent fresh primaries for the state local governments election which is the primary cause of this latest round of intra party crises, while adequate security should be provided for government functionaries including the governor, Dr. Chris Ngige.
G.I. Ikokwu,
President General,
Victor Ezeh,
Secretary General,
Pan Ndigbo National Forum
