Senator Victor Umeh has explained how the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was able to pacify some aggrieved youths not to disrupt the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.
Prior to the build-up of the election, there was a palpable fear of the crucial poll not holding due to the palpable insecurity in the south-eastern state.
In addition, security formations have been attacked with operatives killed, as well as many innocent residents of Anambra State, notably Dr Chike Akunyili, the husband of the late boss of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dora Akunyili,
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, the former APGA National Chairman said the party, traditional rulers and religious leaders reached out to the youths to ensure that the poll was held smoothly.
He equally commended President Muhammadu Buhari for dominating the state with more security operatives to erase the fears that gripped the electorates.
“Through negotiations, on November 4, the IPOB declared openly that people should go and vote in the election and the sit-at-home order which they had issued for one week beginning from November 5, the order was lifted,” he said.
“The greater commendation will go to our traditional rulers and traditional leaders. We had to resort to reaching out to our young people, the people who have been threatening that there won’t be an election in Anambra State.”
While noting that the young people had every reason to be aggrieved, the APGA chieftain explained that the several appeals paid off as they conveyed the message to their people to take things easy.
This is even as he noted that the issues of marginalisation of the Igbos will be properly addressed in the Nigerian polity through dialogue and persuasion.
