The re-election of Governor Soludo and the congratulatory message by the NGF will go down well with many Nigerians as a sign of performance and a look back into what governance can be like in a very challenging political environment.
Amidst the violence, lawsuits, and apathy that usually characterize elections in the country, the peaceful nature of the Anambra election gives some room to believe that the Nigerian democracy is coming of age, at least in those areas where the will of the populace is upheld.
To the people of Anambra, the victory of Soludo is a continuum and a new hope at the same time. The voters will now turn to him to enhance reforms, establish inclusive economic opportunities, and keep on building trust between the government and the citizens.
Nevertheless, besides joy, this is also a time of responsibility on the part of both Soludo and the NGF. Nigerians will not be able to believe the words of solidarity between governors but how it became effective to improve the stance of governance between the states.
Healthy competition, learning among peers, and common innovation should be encouraged in the Forum because of the success of one administration. The moral of the story is Anambra, with an electoral process that is credible and a people-oriented leadership, has restored democracy to its human face.
This is perhaps the time when the governors of Nigeria should seek to look within themselves and reinstate institutions in their states and demonstrate that political stability and service to the people are not mutually exclusive.
