Anambra Gubernatorial Election: Everyone is a Winner! by Patrick Eholor

The election results have just been announced and Prof Charles Soludo was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

This triumph and resilience embodies the strength and show of character of the good people the state. It’s not only a victory for the All Progressive Grand Alliance but by extension a strong message of let peace reign.

Couple of days to the election, it was amidst cloud and uncertainty if the election would hold. The security challenges and IPOB threat compounded the uncertainties. The political active people of the state were disillusioned and engrossed with fear about exercising their franchise and fundamental right to choose their next governor.

The almighty God in his providence and mysterious act descended peace and good reasoning to prevail.

In a surprise U-turn, the IPOB rescinded on their sit at home and no election order.

This act of God created an euphoric atmosphere and ecstatic reawakening at the most needed time. This created moment was the needed tonic by the enlightened voters. The election miraculously amidst fear and uncertainties prevailed. The election day saw a huge and unprecedented presence of special security forces deployed by the Federal Government to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.

Apart from pockets of few minor misconduct, the voters, once officials, candidates and party officials exhibited the right conduct needed to make the election go peacefully. The introduction of the new bipedal verification accreditation system BVAS helped matters a lot to diffuse the fear of the election being rigged. This new voting technology was test run in this election and the outcome was adjudged quite satisfactory.

Elections here in Nigeria is taken to a new dimension and height to ensure a credible result. The merchants of violence and rigging must be highly disappointed that it’s not business as usual. Their schemes was overtaken by the new technology. It’s a new dawn in our elections and much needed confidence building that people’s vote must count. The uncivilised, rude and crude manner in our general conduct during election is fast eroding with this new experience. The election has been won and lost and by Divine providence, everyone is a winner judging the peaceful conduct of the election. This new found peace must endure and built on to radiate the atmosphere of good governance.

This welcoming atmosphere will pump up the governor-elect to work assiduously to usher in a new level of governance that will propel growth in every sector. The time of campaign and election is over. This is time for good governance. All hands must be on deck, winner and losers must work together to take the state to unprecedented heights. The governor elect must run an all inclusive government that ensures everyone is carried along. He should just be the people’s governor.

The elitist and business nature of the people must come to bear and make a huge difference. The campaign manifesto of the ruling party must come to work and be prioritized to reflect people’s needs in the right order.

The hawks of the dark age in our political life must be change their attitude or be made irrelevant and systematically thrown to extinction. Coming along, there’s great tasks ahead.

Congratulations and welcome the governor elect. The people of Anambra State are watching. Let Peace Reign.

Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor is a social affairs commentator and human rights defender. He writes from Lagos Nigeria.