Senator Ben Obi, the convener of the workshop remarked, “This workshop in essence, is to ensure that the vibrant competition among the gubernatorial candidates is carried out in a healthy and mature manner to guarantee continued peaceful coexistence of Anambrarians…..? It is my hope that this workshop will come up with far-reaching recommendations to ensure that this gubernatorial election will be free, fair, transparent and credible where votes count, devoid of rancour and the result acceptable to all candidates in the interest of the populace of Anambra State. ”
The Chairman of the event Senator Ike Nwachukwu, in his address titled “You Make of Mar Free and Fair and Acceptable Elections”? stated, “in this hall today, are men and women who will make Anambra people proud.? Make them proud because your collective? will to put? behind us all the cliche? that tis State? encourages? electioneering thuggery and malpractices; does not easily accept the outcome? of elections, even where it is? glaring that? a loser truly and squarely lost; and support attitudes uncomplimentary to representational democracy.”
SSG Oseloka Obaze, who was at the event, noted that Anambra State government was committed to hosting? workshops such as this, which were imperative and underpinned the prevailing civility, culture of tolerance and peacefulness of pre-election activities in Anambra State.
Prof. George Obiozor, perhaps underpinned the reason for the workshop best, when he said, “In fact, elections complicate the state the state or national problems inherited from previous/past election.? The? situation is that never before have we had more elections decided by the courts than by the ballot boxes a we have today.”? In the end he declared that “Anambra is a frontier state, if you succeed the rest of Nigeria will succeed.”
INEC Chairman, Prof.? Attahiru Jega urged participants ” to renew them respective commitments to maintain a culture of tolerance, respect or the Rule of Law, eschew violence, admonish supporters? to conduct themselves peacefully, and to remember that political competition is not a war…..”
In the end, the keynote speaker, Prof. Rev.? Obiora Ike said, “We stand on sacred soil, in Anambra state … a place of heritage, but we stand on a new threshold..? Much has been done in Anambra, but not enough has not been done.? He said that what was needed was a transformational leadership.. Not about money but about quality and through a true conversion of the minds…..” Finally, he called for “a new beginning.”
It was announced that the National Debate Group will hold nationally? televised governorship debates on?29 October 2013 and 1 November 2013?at the Women? Development Center, Awka.
The workshop is expected to adopt a communique.
