 |
| Governor David Umahi (Credit: Channels TV) |
According to Ebonyi, the governor's decision on October 31 prohibiting political parties from staging demonstrations in the state's public schools does not include the APC, which is now in power.
The prohibition started on November 1st.
The public's reactions to the ruling were mixed, and several political stakeholders questioned if the APC would be impacted by its provisions.
Such concerns were allayed on Saturday in Abakaliki when Commissioner for Information and Orientation Uchenna Orji interacted with journalists.
The requirements of the decree, he claimed, were binding on all political parties and were meant to safeguard the employees, students, and faculty who work in the institutions.
“The apprehensions should be allayed because even in civilised societies, there are conditions attached to political parties holding rallies in public facilities.
“We should correct the earlier insinuations that the order banned political parties from ever holding rallies in these facilities.
“All political parties, including the ruling APC, must secure approval from relevant authorities to use the schools and other public facilities,” he said.
The commissioner noted that securing the lives and property of the people was paramount to the government and should override all personal interests.
“Holding political rallies in schools ordinarily puts the security of pupils and students at risk because they are vulnerable.
“Since parents are not with the pupils and students while in school, anything can happen.
“We have security reports that gunmen may attack schools during campaigns, so the order was a proactive step to forestall such incidents,” he said.
Mr Orji reiterated that the N5 million required of political parties to campaign on school premises was refundable as the overall interest was to protect the people.
“People also pay to use the stadium for various activities, so the provisions of the order are not new.
“The media should assist the government in propagating the ideals of the order as insecurity is a menace affecting everyone,” the commissioner stressed.
(NAN)