Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, the flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP) in the Anambra governorship election slated for November 18, has
restated his total commitment to peaceful elections, saying that the
forthcoming election is not a do-or-die affair.
Speaking at the headquarters of his campaign organisation in Awka, Obaze
said the whole society will suffer if democratic processes are allowed to
degenerate into violence. “I need your votes so that we can embark on the
process of rebuilding Anambra state. Anambra state deserves better.
Presently, it is badly broken, we need to fix it. I ask you to go and cast
your votes for PDP. While you do that, I ask you also to do so peacefully.
No hate speeches, no mud slinging, and no violence. It does not augur well
for us to engage in any form of violence. Democracy is a peaceful process,
not a do or die affair. Come November 18, go out there and cast your votes
for me. And please, do so peacefully.”
Obaze made a similar commitment at the sidelines of one of his campaign
rallies. Speaking to journalists after the rally, the PDP candidate said,
“this is a democratic process and I am totally committed to playing the
game by the rules. I have also committed myself to honouring the results
of the election.
“If at the end of the day, ndi Anambra, in their wisdom, decide to cast
their votes in favour of any of my co-contestants, including the
incumbent, I will congratulate the winner and move on. On the other hand,
if I win, I hope the other candidates will treat me with that same
attitude of sportsmanship. To me, it’s not a do or die affair. I’m in this
because I sincerely believe that Anambra deserves better than it currently
gets, but the ultimate decision lies in the hands of the electorate.
Continuing, Obaze said, “I have served this great state of ours as the
Secretary to the State Government. My records while serving in that
capacity are in the public domain. I’m now pleading with ndi Anambra to
join hands with me to serve in a higher capacity and restore our state to
the path of success. We can’t allow our dear state to continue to treat
our future and those of our children and children’s children with
recklessness.
“We must prioritize education and human capital development of our people.
That is the only way we can thrive in this highly competitive 21st century
global marketplace. To that effect, I’m proposing to devote 26% of our
budget to education as against the paltry 3% it currently receives. The
difference between what I’m offering ndi Anambra and what other candidates
are offering them is manifestly clear. Moreover, in the interest of
rotational power shift, I have undertaken to serve for only one term and
no more” Obaze concluded.