By Francis Onoiribholo Bureau Chief Benin
Bearly 72 hours to the Edo State governorship election, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin, His Lordship, Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze has urged the candidates of all the participating political parties to reject intimidation and any harassment from any quarters in the election and seek peace.
Akubeze made the call while declaring an open Civil Society Interactive Session with Political Parties and Candidates organised by the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption, ROLAC, programme.
Archbishop Akubeze who was represented by Rev. Fr. Benedict Onwugbenu admonished that the dialogue should be used to discuss the future of Edo State and strategies for fostering an environment of transparency, collaboration and mutual respect.
“Today, we gather not only to discuss the future of Edo State but to foster an environment of transparency, collaboration, and mutual respect. This dialogue represents a vital opportunity for our candidates to share their visions and for the community to engage in meaningful discussions”.
While urging the candidates and their political parties to seek peace ahead of the election, Akubeze noted that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, understanding and goodwill.
He said “As we engage in these important conversations, the Catholic Church also calls for peace as we approach the elections. We emphasize that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, understanding, and goodwill.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that this electoral process is marked by civility and respect. Let us remember that every citizen’s voice counts, and we must create a safe space for everyone to express their views. We encourage all candidates and supporters to engage in peaceful dialogue and to reject any form of violence or intimidation.
“Together, let us commit to a peaceful election period—one that reflects our shared values and strengthens the fabric of our community. Let us embark on this important journey together, united in our commitment to peace and democracy”.
Welcoming participants earlier, the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor pointed out that the dialogue is meant for civil society actors to interact with the governorship candidates and also allow the candidates to sell their manifestos to members of civil societies as they are also voters.
Ugolor who was also the moderator of the programme noted that an interactive session was also held with the contestants in the 2020 governorship election, expressing dismay over some violent incidents that have trailed the current electioneering campaign and called for caution among the political gladiators.
While setting the rules for the interaction, Ugolor urged members of civil societies to ask only questions they have evidence about and avoid issues bordering on hearsay and shun foul language.
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In a goodwill message, the chairman of Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Festus Alenkhe urged politicians, political parties and their candidates to play by the rules of the game adding that there’s no need to kill ourselves because of election.
Alenkhe pointed out that whichever way the election goes is news for the media, stressing that even violence and other negative behaviours on election day are news for the media.
The chairman of the Conference of Non-governmental Organisations (CONGOS), Comrade Bartholomew Okoudo appealed to politicians to play down the things that will lead to violence, regretting that some of their activities and utterances have led to violence.
While appealing to whoever wins the election to carry the civil society community along in the governance process as they have a lot to contribute to the enthronement of good governance, Okoudo urged the candidates to make their campaigns issues-based.
It was a moment of truth for the candidates and representatives of the participating political parties as they all agreed that there were a lot of good policies and programmes in the outgoing government of Governor Godwin Obaseki, pledging that such programmes would be retained and strengthened.
The political parties and their representatives were drilled on how they will handle education, health, environment, infrastructural facilities, sustenance of prompt payment of salaries and pensions, the independence of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), rule of law, separation of power, gender and social inclusion, the war against corruption and other issues relevant to the enthronement of good governance.
The candidates present at the interactive session, including Pastor Azemhe Azena of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Mr Oberaifoh Udoh of the Africa Alliance Congress, Dr. Bright Enabulele, the Deputy Governorship candidate of Accord Party and Dr. Washington Osifoh who represented the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo answered questions on their plans for the state on winning the election.
The candidate of the NNPP, Dr. Azemhe Azena who spoke on his plan for teachers in the state if elected, said there will be training and retraining of teachers.
He said if voted as the governor of Edo state, he would create a viable platform for teachers to brainstorm with modern technology. Azena also talks about how he will employ more doctors and create a good environment and modern equipment for them to carry out their work.
Dr. Azemhe said that tackling unemployment is for him to focus on production. He said there is no need to tax the poor and leave the rich, saying that the gap between the rich and the poor is very wide.
For the Accord Party (AP) candidate, Bright Enabulele said if his party is voted into power in the state, they will give Edo people favourable tax relief. He said corruption and poverty are what is affecting the people of the state.
Enabulele opined that he is going to focus on social issues that would make life meaningful for the Edo people, adding that the good people of Edo state have never enjoyed good governance.
According to AAC candidate, Udoh Oberaifoh, the best way to promote business in the state is to encourage the small and medium-scale industries by assisting them with funds and tax rebates and by so doing they will not only grow to become employers of labour but also increase cash flow into the state.
“This will go a long way to grow the local economy reduce tension and unrest as well as solve the problem of insecurity within the locality and the state in general because many hands are now engaged in employment.
