A day to Anambra governorship election, some stakeholders in Igbo land, have called on the electorate and political actors to show electoral maturity.
The call was made in a press statement, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by Mr Ikechukwu Okafor, a media aide of the former Aviation minister, Chief Osita Chidoka, on Friday in Awka.
The statement reads “the former Aviation minister, Chief Osita Chidoka, minority leader of the Senate, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, and a Law Professor and activist, Dr Sam Amadi, have called for a peaceful conduct of the election.
NAN reports that the call followed extensive online conversation initiated and anchored by Chidoka on practical ways to push through the agitation of the southeast people.
The statement said that the meeting centered particularly within the context of the Anambra governorship election.
Chidoka said the call became imperative as external forces, criminal elements and desperate politicians have hijacked the genuine agitation of the people and cashed in on the situation in the state to unleash violence.
“In most cases, innocent persons are framed up to justify state-backed brutality in the state and the region.
“The trio urged the various agitation groups in the region to shame and disarm their enemies to call for conduct of peaceful elections, ask Anambra people to come out and choose their leader.
NAN reports that the statement said “Participants in the discussion held that such a position by the groups would strengthen the demand for political solutions and engagements towards the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Chidoka said that the “act of voting by the people of Anambra on November 6 is a major part of the affirmation of our self-determination as a people.
“If the people cannot decide who will govern them through an election, they are not close to determining their future through a democratic process.
“Denying the people the right to vote is a major denial of their rights to self-determination,” he said.
The trio insisted that the agitation of the southeast is better realised when the movement participates in the political process and throws up political leaders who share the vision and aspiration of the people.as election boycott will destroy that possibility.
According to them, “when the people elect a leadership that represents their hopes and aspirations, they are in a position to pursue the people’s agenda more effectively. Whatever is the plan, it has to go through a political process.
“If you have governors and legislators who share in the vision you agitate for, it would be easier to realise such vision,” they said.
Sen. Abaribe pointed out that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would have languished in Prison if he was not a Senator and ready to meet the bail condition that required a Senator to stand surety.
“You have to be in the game to score a goal,” Sen Abaribe pointed out.
He said that November 6 date for the Anambra election should be sacrosanct, adding that any activity that will not give room for a peaceful conduct of the election is equivalent to pressing a self-destructive button on the state and the southeast region.
Amadi called for a more pragmatic strategy such as the Catalonia approach of self-development and using the movement platform to achieve political control.
In summary, Chidoka restated the call for a peaceful election on Nov. 6 and noted that the election is a significant part of the self-determination process of the people to elect the leader that can best advance their agitation.
“We urge all eligible voters to come in their numbers without fear or molestation to cast your votes to the candidates of their choice,” he said.
