Stakeholders mull post-election code of conduct for Anambra politicians

WORRIED about the extreme partisanship and social strife that usually follow after electoral contests in the Anambra state, stakeholders, including civil society organizations, media executives, traditional rulers, religious leaders and leaders of market associations, held a one-day talk-shop at the GeoGold Hotel and Suites, Awka.

The one day ‘Anambra Stakeholders Talk-shop’ had as its theme: “Anambra Beyond Politics” organised by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Anambra State chapter, the meeting provided the platform for various speakers to point the way forward for the state to rise above political divides and unite for the socio-economic development of the state.

The traditional leader of Awka, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Gibson Nwosu, Eze-Uzu Awka; was the royal father of the day while the former Secretary of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo chaired the occasion.

Prominent Anambra citizens in politics, academia and public service delivered papers. Speakers included the former Special Assistant (Political Matters) to the immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Senator Ben Ndi Obi, former Chairman of Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Professor Titus Eze and the Head of Department of Engineering, Anambra State University Ulli, Dr. Philip Atamuo.

Senator Obi commended the organisers of the “epoch making event of Anambra State stakeholders’ talk-shop cum interactive forum for a well thought out theme: Anambra Beyond Politics.”

The former presidential aide disclosed that he has always been an advocate of political stability and smooth operations of democratic ideals.

He noted that the decision of former President Jonathan and incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari to abide by the agreements of the Abuja Peace Accord was responsible for the current peace being witnessed in the polity today.

Going down memory lane, Obi noted that: “it was in furtherance of my belief that continuous stakeholders’ interaction and brainstorming is key and central towards achieving a stable, robust, prosperous and virile democracy that I, through my office as the then Special Adviser to the president, convened an all political parties and stakeholders summit, where key political stakeholders such as the then President Goodluck Jonathan and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, signed a commitment to play politics by the rules.”

He added that the historic ‘Abuja Peace Accord’ was followed up by a summit, stressing that the other presidential candidates and chairmen of political parties signed an agreement to maintain peace before, during and after the polls.

“I thank the two contending political gladiators for keeping to that agreement, which brought about the current peace which we are are witnessing today,” Obi declared.

While stressing that similar feat could be replicated in Anambra State, Senator Obi noted that after the successful signing of the Abuja peace accord and subsequent smooth handing over, the United Nation’s Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon sent a prestigious delegation led by the UN representative in Africa, Mr. Ibn Chamber to his office with a note of appreciation for convening such a summit that brought peace to the largest country in Africa contrary to the predictions of doomsayers.

“Inter-party collaboration is an essential ingredient that facilitates harmonious relationship between political parties,” he asserted, pointing out that his office also conducted election sensitization workshops for key political stakeholders prior to the staggered governorship elections in Edo, Anambra, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states.”

Obi explained that the violence that marred the inconclusive election in Bayelsa was largely caused by the non-conduct of the usual sensitization workshop. He said that at the workshop the top gladiators were usually gathered and engaged to commit to peace and orderliness before, during and after the polls.

He added: “There is no gainsaying the fact that Anambra’s need is beyond politics, at a critical point in time like this, what our dear state need is comprehensive development through collective effort. In the past, the mixture of politics with governance has always turned disastrous, I remember vividly the carnage that besieged our state to ransom and the end product was abduction of a sitting governor, arson in government house and in the end what we witnessed was all politics and no governance which reduced our state to a mere mockery among comity of states in Nigeria.”

According to him, “There is therefore need for the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-Party Affairs to be in a position to interact with the state chapter of IPAC for the effective collaboration with other political parties in the state.”

What then should obtain after elections? Senator Obi noted that: “While politics is an essential element that must prelude democracy, it is however, important that we stakeholders be in the know that politics must be played not only at the right time, but, in a manner that is within the dictates of the guiding rules and regulations.”

He added that once a legitimate government is sworn in, the next thing that must follow is governance “our state at present is at the stage of governance. I therefore, urge all stakeholders to close ranks and ensure that Governor Willie Obiano is not only working, but willingly working and to the best interest of ndi Anambra,” he added.
Obi advised political stakeholders in the state not use politics to overheat the polity and to eschew politics of bitterness, rancour and violence, stressing: “When we get our politics right, the development of the state will be rapid and even.”

Former ANSIEC chairman, Professor Eze, said the concept of Anambra Beyond Politics demands that “we should be looking at what should happen to the state after elections, be it local council, National/State Assemblies, governorship or presidential.”

Eze, who is also the traditional ruler of Azia pointed out that the Anambra Beyond Politics 2015. “Is an evaluation paradigm designed to enable every Anambrarian pause a little and think of what should ideally happen to the state to make it progress beyond politics.”

He contended that the concept transcends the winner takes all that more often characterize the nation’s body politic. The former electoral commission chairman said that those that obtain mandate to govern should at all times reflect goodwill and support of all well-wishers of Anambra State. “Every effort should be made so that all useful and productive hands and brains are at work for the purpose of moving the state forward. In other words, we expect to synthesize and use the best thoughts and materials from personalities in Anambra State so that the corporate existence that drives success in the state can be achieved and maintained,” he advanced.

The traditional ruler harped on the electioneering process at the local government level saying that the umpire at that level should be empowered and seen to be independent while performing its duties and owing no allegiance to the authorities that brought it into being.

Making suggestions on how to strengthen democratic structures at the grassroots, the former ANSIEC boss stated:
“Specifically, if the state electoral commission was established to render services specifically for the local government system, part of the national funding for the local council, may be five percent, may be devoted to the operations and running of the commission so that it can, without equivocation, set a date and conduct its elections.”

Eze pointed out that if such a situation obtains, smaller political parties in the state could be supported to participate. He disclosed that Anambra Beyond Politics calls for the cooperation and participation of all Anambra people in making sure that the state moves forward. “It calls for the soul-searching of individuals to ask themselves where do we stand or where are we going after a particular election in Anambra State,” he said.

Tackling the theme from socio-cultural standpoint, Prof. Atamuo noted that Anambra State was endogenous unlike Benue where ethnic and religious configurations of citizens differ. He however regretted that religious politics was fast becoming a burning issue during elections.

Earlier in his welcome address, the state chairman of IPAC, Mr. Sam Oraegbunam, explained that the interactive forum was aimed at harnessing the inputs of Anambra people on the best way to marshal the development of the state devoid of political bickering and other divisive tendencies. Oraegbunam declared that “time has come to provide intellectual and professional direction for leadership and development of Anambra State.” He noted that the challenges of declining revenue from federal allocation and economic downturn being experienced in the country, demand that state governments and their citizens should collaborate to find ways of improving the lot of the people.

While declaring the talkshop open, former secretary of SURE-P, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, said democracy presupposes that the citizens continue to support their government through goodwill and civic responsibility. He remarked peace and harmony can only come through mutual respect and understanding among the government and the people. The royal father of the day and traditional ruler of Awka, His Royal Majesty, Eze-Uzu, Gibson Nwosu; regretted that Governor Obiano did not send a representative to such an important meeting even as he restated the need for government and citizen collaboration to stem the tide of extreme partisanship in the society.