Embattled Anambra State governor, Dr. Chris Ngige has reacted to the bomb blast that rocked his official residence in Awka, Thursday night, saying that violence and intimidation can’t move him.
He told Weekend Vanguard in an exclusive interview Wednesday night that no matter the level of violence unleashed by his opponents to facilitate his exit from power, he is committed to providing good governance in Anambra State. Ngige stated that more than ever before, he is ready for peace with his opponent on some conditions. What are these terms? He reveals them in this interview.
The bomb explosion which occurred in your official residence on Tuesday night was another in the series of violent attacks directed at you by some persons. How did it happen?
Well, it happened on Tuesday night as you already know, at about 11 p.m. I was having my dinner when all of a sudden, there was a deafening explosion which shook the entire buildings at the lodge. Obviously, the bomb was planted by yet to be properly identified persons near the wall fence of my official residence.
The (bombs) were carefully positioned at strategic corners by those who planned them. I have the feeling that the plot was to get the entire lodge down to rubbles with the hope that I might be killed in the process but God has shown His divine grace such that I’m still alive today and will always be.
Nobody knew when these people planted the bomb. But I think it is just one of those violent acts designed to cause total chaos in Anambra State and destabilise the government from functioning and providing good governance to the people.
To a large extent, I must tell you that these guys (attackers) have almost succeeded in making sure that we don’t have anywhere to operate from. Is it the Government House, my office, the state Assembly complex; the legislative quarters, the judiciary complex or the state radio station that was spared? Everything has been razed down in the organised mayhem.
The legislators sat the other day inside the destroyed legislative complex. I have no office right now. So there were a lot of things destroyed by these people and it is going to cost the people of Anambra a whole lot of money running into billions of naira to bring everything back to shape. The Senate Committee members were around the other day and they wept at the magnitude of the destruction.
My official residence which is the only structure left for us is now their new target. If you go there right now, you will see deep holes created by the bomb blast. The roofs of the building were severely affected and I believe that the people are not done yet, they are still going to strike somewhere again soon. They have made several attempts on my life but here I am still being protected by the Almighty God.
Where did you pass the night shortly after the incident?
At the lodge, of course. The bombers were repelled and some of them were arrested by my personal security team who combed the nearby Nise-Agulu bush area in search of them.
Who do you suspect in particular?
Well, it is obvious to every discerning mind in this country who have been following the Anambra saga where all these attacks are coming from. It has always been coming from one direction just in the attempt to frustrate and incapacitate me and get me out of office. So these things are very clear.
What is your mission in Abuja and when are you coming back to Awka?
My trip to Abuja is a brief one, to sort out one of two security matter. But I shall be back in Awka in shortest possible time. I can’t stay away from the people because this period is another trying times for all of us Anambrarians.
How would you describe the Appeal Court ruling in Enugu which compelled the police authorities in Abuja to restore your security?
Very good. I was really elated at that judgement. It is like a balm on the wounds because when you look at it, there was actually no need for the withdrawal of my police protection. This thing was challenged at the lower court at the time yet nothing happened. Now that the Appeal Court has ruled, one is very happy about the development because it has shown that the rule of law has triumphed. It has also confirmed to me once again, that the Judiciary is indeed the last hope of the common man.
I have always believed in the independence of the Judiciary and if that independence is maintained by judicial officers and encouraged by all of us, justice will always prevail. Because it is me today, it could be someone else tomorrow. So, if you condemn what is wrong when it happened to another person, you are indirectly protecting your own rights and liberties. Any of us could be victim of injustice at any time. But there is need for a conscious effort to build a just system. So, I feel good about the court decision.
How soon do you expect that your security will be restored fully as directed by the police I.G. following the court judgement?
Very soon. It is my entitlement, isn’t it? I hope that the police will implement the directive of the Inspector General of Police as quickly as possible. The directive has just been given.
You and Chief Chris Uba have been blamed for not showing willingness to embrace peace and find a lasting solution to these crises...
I have always been on the side of peaceful resolutions of the matter. On my part, I have co-operated very well with all the various peace initiatives, the peace efforts put in place before and now. I can not be termed the aggressor because as governor and a party in the whole saga, I have not taken any action that is antithetical to public peace and neither has any member of my government done that. We have been the ones at the receiving end.
The people of Anambra State who have been the beneficiary of our laudable programmes in the last one and half years have also been at the receiving end of this sustained aggression by the other group. One thing that particularly pains me is the fact that security agents, the police in this case, aided and abetted the attackers and destroyers of public property. The security agents were showing these people where to burn down and they supervised the large scale destruction. So what can I do?
Therefore, I am disposed to peace in Anambra for the sake of the people who are happy with what we have done in the state. Personally, I have nothing against anybody, or any citizen of the state.
As governor, I am only interested in making a difference in the lives of our people and all these violent activities are providing unnecessary distractions to that mission. Like I said, I am ready for a lasting peace but on the conditions that these aggressive behaviours will stop forthwith. It is not reasonable to be making peace with a man whose only interest is to continue in a warfare.
Both parties have to be amenable to peace and as a party to this matter, I restate my commitment to peace on the condition that further hostility will stop. The people of Anambra State have been traumatised well enough and it is my hope that the need to seek peace should be mutual in the interest of our people. Thank you.
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