The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called for the declaration of a state of emergency in Cross River state for alleged aggravated crimes and threatening anarchy.
A statement signed by the state’s Young Progressive Party (YPP) chairman who also serves as IPAC chairman Anthony Bissong Attah said the call was imperative following recent events in the state.
On Monday morning, large numbers of insurgents barricaded Governor Ben Ayade’s office in Calabar for allegedly failing to implement earlier deals and negligence.
The militants had wreaked havoc all around until Alfred Mboto, an aide to Governor Ayade, offered them a reward of N500,000 for fuel and asked the governor to hold a session with them.
There have also been recent kidnappings, armed robberies and gangsterism in parts of the state, despite the efforts of state governments.
Following the incident, IPAC president Attah said tensions were exacerbated by the invasion of the governor’s office by former militants.
”Recall that the entire state civil service has been shut down for the past two weeks with attendant unprecedented street protests”.
“Alarmed by heightening national insecurity, we are compelled to demand that a State of emergency be declared in Cross River State to forestall a total breakdown of law and order in our once most peaceful state in Nigeria.”
Attah also stressed that the federal government would not act until Cross River’s situation became as it was in the northeast, northwest, and southeast states, stressing that people’s lives were in danger.
Reacting quickly, Alfred Mboto frowned at the call, describing it as evil and very bad from both IPAC and YPP.
He said that in all Nigerian states, Cross River was still the safest, adding that the state was at the bottom of the crime rate.
“Security situation in Cross River is still the best up till tomorrow. Those calling for a state of emergency should peep into some of the Southeast or Northeast states and make comparisons. Such comment is wicked and very bad.”