 A number of Governorship Elections finally come to an end as INEC declares Soludo winner of the exercise and Cross River South stakeholders demand Governorship slot. Well this is Plus Politics. I'm Mary Anna Cohn. The President of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected. This is data. Well that's the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC there declaring Chukuma Soludo the all-progressive Congress, all-progressive grand alliance, APCA winner of the November 6th Governorship Elections in Anambra State. Now Mr. Soludo pulled a total of 112,229 votes to defeat his closest rival Valentino Zibu of the People's Democratic Party who scored 53,807 to emerge second. Now, and you both the all-progressive Congress candidate got a total of 43,285 votes to emerge in third position. Well joining me to discuss this is Program Manager Elections Yaga Afika Paul James, National Publicity Secretary Ohane Zindibu, Alex Ogbuna and Political Analyst Biodom Shomi. Thank you very much gentlemen for joining us. It's my pleasure. Thank you. Great. I'm gonna start with you. Thank you. I'm gonna start with you Paul because you obviously as Yaga had been monitoring the elections from start to finish in terms of security, INEC, voters, literally everything and I did speak to somebody from Yaga yesterday. He spoke to us about voter turnout and you know the fact that insecurity was not necessarily an issue except for the case in Ihiala. But as Yaga, what did you deduce from this election? Some people would say they applaud you know the Anambrians for coming out even amidst all of the fear and you know all the propaganda on social media and including the hysteria on you know the traditional media. Everything went out went on smoothly. I was there in the field apparently. I did not experience anything you know in terms of violence but for you what was your takeaway from Anambra especially for elections that are to come? I think you have captured it all. For me the biggest takeaway is of the people. The people were the winners from this election but despite the the challenges they brave the odds and then they came out and engaged the process. This was an election that happened under a very tense atmosphere and then also an election that happened. But a lot of uncertainties. If you go back from August the 9th to this day when the sit-at-home order started in the in the southeast, it somehow impacted a case by stakeholders and as well also voter education activities. Voter education for Anambra was all time low. Lower than what they had experienced in previous election and we had fear that based on what we were seeing in the build-up to the election it was going to affect turnout because not so much has been done to encourage people to participate in the process and largely also not default of the state code that was like I said because of those uncertainties. Now if you look at also the other elements that are played out in the build-up to the election. That was a voter registration activity by INEG that did happen. For five consecutive Mondays the people of Anambra lost the chance to participate in this process because of the sit-at-home order. Now in September precisely between September 7th and September 11th and they did the display claims and objection. Also because of this uncertainties not very many people came out to engage the display claims and objection process but then we went to the election. We thought Anambra could change the narrative especially based on what we are seeing in the past but sadly this is where we are. Turnout all time low in the history of state elections in Nigeria. The final results are declared by INEG indicated that Anambra turnout is only 10.27 percent. Now if you recall in 2014, turnout was under 21 percent and we were crying then that wow Anambra turnout. If you look at also engagement in state election in Anambra it has always been low compared with national election. But the national election the turnout in Anambra in 2019 was 26 percent. So you'd be to wonder whether or not people are really taking the election or the process that is even closer to them as serious as it should. But then I said given the uncertainties we need to also commend those that brave the odds and came out to engage the process. But the most quality that would be is that people were civil, people are credit, I mean engage the election in a very peaceful and cordial manner and I think they deserve that credit. What do you think quickly because I'm going to go to the other guest. What do you think that needs to be done because if there's discontinuous low voter turnout and you are you're unable to tell if the people are not interested in you know the process or the people are interested but there might be just certain roadblocks that are causing this. So as Yaga have you done some form of investigative studies or you know take a poll of sorts to find out what the people need for them to be able to come out en masse to cast their votes. I think on the part of the people people are interested based on also what we have seen in the process people are beginning to understand the power of their vote. If you recall there was a video where I think for a very big community about women that rejected that rejected inducement in the election and they said no we're going to vote for the person that we wanted and that for me sent a very strong message to the political distractors and also show us the power of the people. Now what remains is the need for earlier engagement. Most times we allow this engagement we make this engagement episodic. They are done very close to the election and that was why the Anabra engagement was impacted like I said by the uncertainties. If this has started some four years ago if we begin to be a election from the prism of a process not an event and we start earlier engagement it will help to drive up this. Now Anabra has 2.5 million registered voters about 1.7 collected that PVC and under 250 engage the process that is very low only a few people determine who becomes the governor of the state. If you look at it from the moral point others will not even have a say they don't have the moral right to question whatever happens in that process. So it's to begin to conscientize and to understand this value. Now there are issues also cases of vote buying for instance for as low as 2,000 nera. Now 2,000 put it by four years 500 nera every year. If you go back to this voter and educate the voter to say this money that you are collecting from politicians will start your development it will start the development of the state because this politician will want to recoup their money before they begin to talk about state development. Now compare that also with minimum wage how much is minimum wage 18,000 do that by four years and you see how much that will amount to. So when you begin to ingrain this in their consciousness to understand the value of one vote perhaps will change the narrative of how they engage the process going forward. Okay let me come to you Mr Buona. Most of us watched the first speech from Mr Soludo when he was announced as governor-elect. I did watch some excerpts from his conversation today on another TV station. He said he was going to engage everybody across board. He he actually said that the PDP man had reached out to him to congratulate him and he was open to you know welcoming everybody on board. He even talked about the transition committee. He said when he was on the receiving side when the last time he ran for governorship and lost he reached out to you know the people who won and congratulated you know the person that he holds nothing against him and that all that he looks forward to is preparation to take Anambra to a new level. So let's look at the person of Charles Soludo and what Anambra stands to gain from him and you know he's a lot of us know him as the former CBN governor but other than that what do you think as a person now that he's emerged governor that we should be looking forward to from him? Well some of us have worked closely with Professor Soludo you know and he's indeed worked very closely with him. We discovered he's an intellectual in the first place. He's broad-minded. He has a character comeliness. He has a possessive way of convincing people you know to let people come close to what he wants. When he said he worked with those who all people that contested the election with him that is the demonstration of large hearts and I'm very much happy he says so and I'm so optimistic that he will do so. You will understand like from my friend who was talking about the voter turnout and that party well the people that voted he just that is the representativeness of Anambra even if all the Anambra to vote it will have the same result would have been obtained of course you want to know the strength of Anambra in and outside outside the Anambra to go to Legos, go to Abuja, go to all parts of the world you will see a lot of Anambra Anambra is all over and because the CG environment created in South East and Anambra some of them we are not very much ready to call whom because of that some of them registered by travel that were one word order but all the same that's the representativeness of Anambra spirit what you saw there but you know Anambra they are looking at the social economics of Anambra city in Soludo with Soludo as an economist and somebody who has got pedigree of central bank and banking industry they're looking at somebody who will be able to turn around manager so that they will be able to bring about desire change in the entrepreneurship capacity of Anambra people and that is part of the reason why he enjoyed the solidarity and support so like say we're going forward we see Soludo as somebody who will reinforce the upgasities he has a work mobilizing and galvanizing the people towards his direction and you will also discover that there are a lot of Yubu elements who have interest in upga because of a foundation led by Ujuku they will also coagulate around him and taste like that so we are very certain that there will be a difference with Soludo's markets as a governor of Anambra state and I'm also happy he was prepared to work with them broad minded, large hearted, he's a gentleman and you will see a difference. I'm going to go to I'm going to go to show me let's put him side by side all his predecessors what sets Chukuma Soludo apart from all of these people including Governor Biano in himself it's interesting that many have said many pundits have said that there was a gentleman's agreement between Governor Biano and Soludo and some other people who participated in this election and that he chose you know Soludo for a certain reason I listen to Soludo himself or say that his relationship with the governor is pretty amazing and that they bonded together that the governor has supported him over time and has been very sincere with him and he said that the governor had told him over and over again that he wanted him Soludo to succeed him but let's see the difference between Soludo and every other governor that has been that's Governor Anambra state. Well in the case of Soludo, Soludo is a technocrat an academician. Emanu was exiled both in academics and also in practical economic implementation. He was not only past governor of Central Bank he has served two different presidents including the current president Bahari who he served as part of the economic administration. So no doubt Soludo is a very well experienced person who has been able to excel himself and delivered. In the case of Anambra is a totally different thing from Bibli. When you look at the way Anambra functions over the years and how it's functioning currently the state is faced with so many challenges. You have the issue of erosion, you have other issues in relation to economic development, the industrialization of the state you know so many environmental problems and a couple with that is the density no population density compared to land us. You have all these problems in Anambra. Not many governors have been able to make any difference to that state. These are challenges which Soludo is bound to face and he has to try and make a difference to them. If he's able to make a difference and impact on all those issues for instance on educational development of the state things that will affect the lives of ordinary people the cost of constructing roads in Anambra is huge because of erosion if he's able to resolve all that and find a means of financing this project which will be cost threat then Soludo will have achieved a lot but apart from Pitao B I have my reservation whether there is any of those former governors who including the current governor William Biano who we can say there was so much expectation you know from them when they got elected in the case of Soludo so much expectation is there. Many people thought it's going to turn Anambra into a Dorado it's going to turn it into a but I don't think so they think it's going to make Anambra very prosperous I don't think so because the reality is where will he get the resources to implement all this but this is someone who's run the central bank for years if there be anybody better to answer that question also be able to know where to get the money it would be Soludo Am I mistaken? No what Soludo is likely going to do because we are faced with an economy which is mono economy where the main state of the economy still remains all only subject to international market fluctuations in prices and because of that you are not able to plan on a sustainable basis on how to develop the state and you know realistically the problem you have is that Soludo is likely going to turn into other things for instance international finance and cooperation they are not likely going to release money to Anambra state just like that without quick conditions he's probably going to look at public private partnership you know in Anambra state he will be looking at financing a through some development assistance from international agencies yes he will make a difference yes he has a cloud yes he's able to convince them yes international finance sectors are likely going to try and support him but there's a limit to what they can do because don't forget that the world is faced with post-covid challenges also so therefore we should not over build our expectations from Soludo otherwise we will not be able to assess him clearly at the end of the day but it's important to question people now so that we understand the stark economic realities because governments are being forced to devalue Naira not because of economic forces or market forces but simply because they need more Naira you know to pay salaries and to run government simply because of doing clean production of oil so this is the reality which Soludo will face but then he will still perform a lot better than many of his governors that are through the Anambra state interesting James I'm going to come to you but let me go back to Aguna he's saying that he might not necessarily do I mean because there's a loss on his plate if you ask me we're still talking about the issue of security here which also is the elephant in the room in Anambra he has to be addressed one way or the other he but then like he said that other governors were not as great as Pitao B that anyone that should be put at power with Soludo would be probably be Pitao B but then we also have a governor William O'Biano who has excelled in many capacities before he even became governor and there are so many you know high hopes for him and now Mr. Showam is saying that you know he's not necessarily been able to scratch the surface would it be that easy for Soludo if it's been this difficult for O'Biano to in the same way scratch the surface or do something really outstanding for a number of people well the fact remains you cannot limit the brain power of an intellectual such as Soludo difficult to limit the brain power what his intellect can do just like while he was in the central bank you see what he was able to do within a very short time that bank consolidation and rest of them so it is expected that he will add a lot of value to the Anambra social economics you see we there's one thing in Igbo land to mobilize them towards a direction there are a lot of billionaires in Anambra state what is important is to galvanize and mobilize them towards a direction when they see vision in you see transparency in you see energy in you they see that you have the capacity to carry them along you will see them coming on board for example many universities in Anambra state they look at university teachers who go to Nanda Zikui University or many other projects they are sponsored by individuals in Anambra state so there is a way you can even galvanize the billionaires in Anambra and things will be working without looking at the money economy like my friend is talking about so Soludo apart from being an intellectual has a possessive role of bringing people to his side and galvanizing the people to move the same direction with him so I don't want to talk about other governance before but one thing that is clear is that Soludo has ideas Soludo has a background of intellect has a bug initiativeness and always bring about desire change so I'm very optimistic that the difference will be very very clear well he's also talked about you know a coalition government of sorts he's talking about bringing other people on board I'd like to quote in directly from what he spoke on this morning he said when it comes to execution of these ideas we need perspectives from other people so that we can serve the people better he said I'm looking to add value everyone who's interested in helping solve the problems of Anambra people is welcome but could we be also keep putting too much on the governor-elect's plates knowing that again I'm going to going back to Governor William Biano there were very high hopes and expectations and those expectations are seemingly dashed should we also not be raising the hopes of Anambrians or rather should we just be watching to see how he builds on what his predecessor has started yeah um it's all the same thing I was saying I believe to relate with people a bit to govern the people I need to harmonize various interests that's what I what's what he's trying to do he's trying to harmonize the diverse interests in Anambra to give it direction and momentum so by to bring it to bring in all the candidates that contest the election it's just a good beginning like I said the Anambra economy they don't really depend on what we come from government it's not like that in Anambra state in Anambra you see a lot of people whose interest in government is the same government can provide security to lives and proper and their property but not what they will gain from government what they will do for the government so what I try to say is that in Anambra have a lot of billionaires a lot of rich people what is important is to harmonize to governize them to give it a direction to give them a direction and the moment they are convinced of where you are going and their vision they will follow you we are very optimistic haven't worked with Surudo for a very long time there would be a dramatic change great what I'm saying Paul Paul I'm most interested in that coalition again because it's easy to say I want everyone on board but then does everyone being on board equal to a successful government because you see everybody has an idea of how they want the government to work out seemingly everybody says this is what the Anambra that I want but will they pose a problem of sorts and has a coalition government ever works in this country bringing everybody from other parties to work with you knowing that every political party has its own agenda well I think for me it depends also largely on the the models for a priority of such government but I've also always had been of the school of thought that most times what the politicians are engaged us with in the build-up to the election during their campaigns I will translate into their policies and when they get elected and if you look at this those fantastic ideas that they all share those fantastic views that they all share I think it will be it will be it will be to the interests of Anambra and by a large by to a large extent also the interests of the country that you harmonize and put distance into one bucket for him extended the olive branch is wanting accepting it is also the other one so I think for me it's for all that political parties to begin to show that political maturity that I necessarily will have to wait for the the winning party to engage if it is possible they should even start off that process of engagement those beautiful ideas they have that they think can help to move the state forward bring them on board I was in Anambra in 2013 I was in Anambra in 2017 and again in this election and I can tell you over time if you look at the trajectory from 2013 to 2017 to 2021 now you will think you will see that truly a lot need to be done especially in terms of development for that state that state is more like a window to the south is nobody talks about this without making reference to Anambra a lot need to be done especially in terms of building infrastructure for the state so they need to truly come together and work towards that okay well this is the measure you can take it seems more like the governor the governor like does have his plate full and all eyes will be on him to see if he actually delivers the manager elections Yaga Africa Paul James national publicity secretary Johannes Indigo Alex Obuna and be able to show me political analysts thank you gentlemen for being part of this conversation thank you very much all right thank you all for staying with us we'll take a short break now when we return we'll be looking at zoning in class river of course they're talking about governorship returning to the southern senatorial districts I'll be having very interesting guests in just a moment