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•Says Senate Deputy Chief Whip should withdraw from race
Chief Chikodiri Ojimba, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the Ebonyi North Senate seat has explained why he’s seeking a seat in the Red Chamber in 2027. He spoke more on that and on other issues.
There is a sitting senator representing Ebonyi North Zone. What do you think you are going to do differently when you are elected the senator representing the zone?
There are lots to do. First of all, I want to tell you that Ebonyi North as a zone in the state is lacking so many things; infrastructure, education, medical equipment and you should know that if you don’t love education, you can’t promote it, if you don’t like infrastructure, you can’t promote it. And as far as I am concerned, infrastructure is one of the priorities I have as a businessman. Education is also one of my priorities as a businessman. If you go to Onyikwa Echara Nkaleke, my village in Ebonyi Local Government Area, you will find out that there is no government present there. But when you get there, you will know how someone who loves education and Infrastructure does his things and it is not hidden there. I don’t know why a serving senator will not look at the locals and provide dividends of democracy for them for their mandate that he is holding. So, what is his reason for the representation because I know that the mandate is the mandate of the people. So, I think it is high time we tell ourselves the truth. When we give you mandate, you should bring it back to the owners. It is not a settlement, we didn’t do apprenticeship to say that we are settling him. If we vote for you, you should account for the votes we gave you.
You made a statement that there was a written agreement that Onyekachi Nwebonyi should not return as a senator representing the zone. We will like you to elaborate on that.
I want you to hear me very clearly; it is not a hidden agreement. It didn’t start now. It started in 1999 when Dr Sam Egwu was elected the governor. In that 1999, Nguji Ngele was elected the senator of the zone then and went to the Senate for four years and handed over to Chris Nshii because of that particular agreement. After four years, Senator Nshii handed over to Anthony Agbo and he handed over to Chris Nwankwo after his own four years in the Senate. Then, after four years, Senator Chris Nwankwo came out and handed over to Sam Egwu in 2015. All these people followed the four years agreement except Sam Egwu who was allowed a second tenure. It is not a hidden agreement. All the stakeholders of Ebonyi North zone, including Governor Francis Nwifuru who is from the zone, is aware of this agreement.
I ran election in 2019 when I noticed that the then state government was changing the agreement for senatorial position of Ebonyi North. I asked them this four years agreement and they said they wanted to settle Sam Egwu, that Sam Egwu was a former governor and I said no. If Sam Egwu was a former governor, let him approach those who are contesting against him and plead with them and not to neglect other aspirants and the agreement. I opposed him strongly, which you were aware of. I contested that election, stood alone with the youths without stakeholders because the then governor used all the stakeholders against me and it pained me because the then governor was from Ebonyi South zone and not from Ebonyi North. So, I told them the truth, lets maintain the agreement that is written which is on ground which all the stakeholders of Ebonyi North are aware of. It is a punk document and I am surprised Nwebonyi is vying for second tenure because I told him then as a party chairman that what you are protecting now will be against you tomorrow. I also told the then governor and Sam Egwu that what they are protecting today would be against them tomorrow.
That issue of Sam Egwu that returned to the Senate in 2019,is the cause of the problem in Ebonyi North senatorial zone today. And you can see it is now playing out and it is my turn to serve my people and there is no two ways about it and I don’t know why anyone who is going on to contest should be scared about it more, especially those who are already occupying the seat. If you are doing well, why should you be scared of going for a contest? For example, is Alex Otti afraid of going for a second term? Is Peter Obi scared of going for election? Why can’t we emulate what is going on in other places? I want to know why? Call will be coming here and there – step down, step down and you are saying that you are doing well. Nobody has gone for second tenure in the three local government of Izzi clan and Nwebonyi and Governor Nwifuru are aware of this. Why is it becoming different now? Nwebonyi knows he is not going anywhere. Was he not a party chairman? Was he not a Commissioner or does he want to tell me that as a lawyer for a long time, he doesn’t understand English on the agreement that was written and signed on the Ebonyi North senatorial zone? This is my turn to represent the district and anybody that comes against it, God will come against the person.
Are you saying that Senator Nwebonyi should withdraw from the 2027 senatorial election?
It is better for him to withdraw. it is better because as a deputy Chief Whip who keeps law, if he can’t keep the laws of his place, how can he keep the laws of the National Assembly? So, he should create a legacy for others to learn or he should maintain the one on ground by withdrawing from the Ebonyi North senatorial race in next year’s general election.
Are you saying you are going to do only one tenure if you win the election?
My brother, I am not hiding it. I am going to do only one tenure Ebonyi North zone is for one tenure. If I win and in 2031 you hear me asking for
