THISDAYonline

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, yesterday warned that the turn of events in Anambra state was now a threat to peace and security in the entire country.

Masari in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Austin Iyashere, however, noted that "The Status of the Governor of Anambra State is now being determined by the courts" but regretted the failure of the peace accord brokered by the Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara.

He counseled that the matter be handled with care to avoid the situation truncating the evolving democratic experiment.

In his reaction, Hon Bala Ibn Na'Allah (ANPP) described the problem as "the shame of PDP", asking, "did you see it happening in Lagos or Sokoto?".

He said that if the party had handled the problem well the first time it occurred, there would not have been a repeat.

Na'Allah said that for such a thing to happen under the Presidency of General Olusegun Obasanjo meant failure of leadership for which he is to blame, describing it as a "cycle of incompetence".

Asked if it did not portend the danger of another person obtaining a similar order against the President, Na'Allah responded, "such an order cannot lie against the President because the conspirators who will get it do not lie outside the Presidency".

He said what is happening in Anambra is a "result of illegitimacy of leadership in the state".

Hon U.S.A Igwesi dismissed the order of the Enugu High Court as "unconstitutional, unfeasible and anarchy ridden", warning those who were minded towards changing the governor of the state to be patient and do so through constitutional means.

He warned against the use of shortcuts for doing things already provided for in the constitution, adding that the Election Tribunals were the best avenue so that evidence taken at sittings would justify the decisions.

He agreed with Masari that the development was a threat to democracy and called on all to rise in condemnation of the attack on Governor Chris Ngige which he said was capable of affecting the collective psyche of every elected officer.