In 2003, ten years ago, something happened in Anambra that altered both the political and economic equations in the state. A few renegade elements, uncouth and unscrupulous characters conspired. They perfected their devious schemes and robbed Ndi Anambra of their most prized and sacred possession in a democracy. It was a broad day crookery laced with violent intimidation and criminal harassment. Figures were falsified; boxes were snatched and stuffed; the rules of the game were observed in utter breach. It was a horrible and heartless violation of peoples' political right which in turn affected their economic benefits negatively. The impact, though unknown to many at the time of commission of the crimes, was far reaching.

Economically, state resources that would have been channeled into some other areas that will benefit the people were deployed to defend the legal tussle that attended the robbery. A total of 525 persons were hired with state resources to enable them defend the rather indefensible broad day robbery. At the end of the day, the whole thing amounted to a waste of resources as the courts were not swayed.

In the course of sharing their criminal butty, disagreement ensued. The fight over who gets what out of the spoil deepened and degenerated into arson of a horrendous proportion; government's properties were burnt and destroyed by known, nay unknown renegades. All those who could decipher the real implications of what was happening in the state protested. It's also noteworthy that the protest of many were short lived, for many who initially talked tough later spoke with a different a tongue when some cash must have exchanged hands. But thanks to God, there will always be a remainant, those that are immune from the swaying power of filthy lucre. We belong to the latter category. Late literary icon, Prof Chinualumogu Achebe, also belonged to the latter category. For instance, the late icon adduced to that very unsavoury developments as the reason for rejecting a national honour being extended by the Federal Government. What a stern protest. We also protested by insisting that nothing but Justice would suffice. Thank God again, that the much desired justice came some thirty-five months later.

One of the political outcomes of the incident is that today, Anambra state holds a staggered election. The election calendar in the state is such that the legislature and the executive officers are not elected at the same time.

Today, in about six days’ time, Anambra will be going to the polls. I pray that there will not be a repeat of the 2003 episode in the state. But in addition to prayers, I admonish, that we must be vigilant. It is a universal consensus that, a peaceful and credible election is a sine qua non for liberty, peace and development. Therefore, all liberty-craving; peace and development-loving Ndi Anambra must rise to the occasion and ensure that peaceful and credible election holds in Anambra on Saturday, 16 November, 2013.

The 2003 experience is evil and must be rejected in its entirety.

•Ijeoma (shown in photo) is MD/CEO at JustGod Global Concept Ltd., Onitsha, and Head, publicity desk at International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law ((Intersociety).

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