Soludo Victory: A New Dawn Beckons

The statement is loud and unequivocal; it’s a victory for democracy.

Fears and apprehensions over Anambra State guber election have made way for victory songs and dancing. The resounding victory of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in last Saturday’s governorship poll in Anambra State is not only victory for the candidate and his party APGA; it is a moment of history for the people of Anambra, for Nigeria and indeed, for democracy.

Recall that the run up to the election was filled with uncertainties and fears that the election may be marred altogether by violence.

Amid increased restiveness and killings, the agitating Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) had issued a sit-at-home order. They posted that unless their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was released from detention, they would carry out their threat to keep voters indoors. The federal government responded by mobilizing its military and security capabilities. No fewer than 35,000 officers and men of the Nigeria Police were pressed to work.

It was under this atmosphere of uncertainty that the Anambra election was held.

The polling turned out to be one of the most peaceful ever held in Nigeria and the outcome, it must be said, represents largely, the will of the voters.

The people of Anambra have once again put their faith in APGA, the fringe political party that has held sway in the state since 1999.

In choosing APGA, they once again shunned APC, the party ruling at the Centre and PDP the other mega party. The message here is clear: federal might and massive national structure would count for little where the people have a choice and democracy is at play.

It was clear from the outset that the Soludo candidacy was no match for the rest of the crowd. Without discounting the high calibre line up of contestants, Soludo stood head over shoulders above the rest. His credentials, his track record and trajectories made him nonpareil.

Apart from being a stellar scholar, he ranks amongst the best central bank governors Nigeria ever had. An international personage and leading economist to numerous countries and world bodies, it has been touted that Anambra has secured a president in the quest for a governor.

A transformational thinker, he promised to make a Dubai, out of Anambra State.

The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) led by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has continued to win its spurs as a reputable and reliable electoral umpire. After the Edo guber election last year and now Anambra, INEC has continued to demonstrate that it can be trusted to organize fairly free, fair and credible elections in which winners are truly a reflection of the choice of the majority.

TRUE VISION commends the presidency for rising to the occasion. Apart from ensuring adequate funding and security measures, there was no attempt to muscle the electoral body to do the bidding of the ruling party. On the contrary, the presidency charged INEC to endeavor to do the right thing.

We also commend IPOB for heeding the voice of reason by rescinding its sit at home order. We urge the federal government to latch on the moment and devise a political settlement to the IPOB agitation.

Using the instrumentalities of Ohanaeze and other leaders of thought in Igboland who wrought the quiet diplomacy and brokered peace in Anambra, let a new day dawn kick in.

We congratulate Prof Soludo and Anambra people; we see a new dawn for Nigeria and her democracy.