Fear stricken residents of Anambra State locked themselves up at home for much of yesterday as the clock ticked toward the 8am take-off of the governorship election in the state today.
The situation left the streets deserted,the markets empty and the banks shut.
Some residents even chose to travel out of the state,unsure of what might happen during the election.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo also yesterday made a last minute appeal to voters in the state to come out and exercise their right today.
The self-imposed sit-at-home by residents appeared to have been partly fuelled by the two days of work free declared by the state government for the people to prepare for the election.
Some residents said they found the large presence of security personnel and deployment of arms and ammunition in the state ahead of the election intimidating.
Some were seen at motor parks boarding vehicles to Enugu, Delta, Edo and Abia, among other States.
A resident who chose not to be named said: “ nobody wants to lose his or her life. The fear IPOB has created in Igbo land will take some time to be forgotten
“Again, it might be a ploy to lure the people out to slaughter them. Personally, I don’t trust them and the way they operate. The security people who are telling people to come out, can they be trusted?
“We are in a critical condition not only in Anambra, but in the entire Igbo land. Me and my household, we will not go anywhere ”.
But Information and Public Enlightenment Commissioner C Don Adinuba said it was not true that residents were fleeing the state.
He said those seen traveling were people from far places like Ayamelum in the state who wanted to go home to cast their votes where they registered.
Adinuba said;”you know the governor declared a two day work free day in the State which are Thursday and Friday. The workers who live in urban centres use the opportunity to travel on time and again, you know it’s still raining
“No one is leaving Anambra State because of insecurity, those you saw are people from far areas in the State like Ayamelum, who want to go and vote.
“If you say they are relocating, what State in Nigeria is safer than Anambra State? People should grow beyond such propaganda.”
ALSO READ
