The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has called on Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Anambra governor-elect, to be magnanimous in victory by embracing and appreciating his opponents in the November 6 governorship poll.
“Soludo should embark on peacebuilding and healing processes by reconciling all citizens irrespective of political affiliations,” the Chairman of CLO in Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.
Ezekwueme spoke shortly after INEC declared Soludo as the winner of the poll in Awka on Wednesday.
The CLO boss also advised the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to run an all-inclusive administration in order to deepen democracy.
Ezekwueme thanked God for the success of the election that reflected the aspirations of the electorate in spite of difficulties and some shortcomings.
“Soludo should spare no efforts to ensure sustainable peace and discard services of sycophants, praise-singers and hangers-on who would want to sow seeds of discord for their own selfish gains to the detriment of the state and democracy.
“In a wise assertion of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe that we should always make friends not enemies, think about the best not the worst of others.
“Pertinently, Soludo should admonish his supporters not to cast aspersions on defeated candidates and their political parties in order to douse tension in the state.
“Soludo’s supporters should give other contestants/candidates at the poll respect and a sense of belonging because losers today may be winners tomorrow.
“He should extend the hand of friendship and fellowship to other contestants, which is the beauty of democracy,” he said.
Ezekwueme said that it would be an act of patriotism for contestants in the poll to display in words and actions political intelligence by not only accepting the outcome of the election but also congratulating the winner.
“We implore the contestants, most importantly, not to engage in unnecessary litigation over the poll,” he added.
