By Agatha Emeadi
Mr Hilary Ugochukwu Nwachukwu is a grassroots politician and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State.
He had contested for the Senatorial election under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and APC.
Nwachukwu who is popularly known as Ugo-Sly is also an international businessman with bias in real estate.
In this interview with Sunday Sun, he said that the re-elected governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has beaten the record of former Imo governors, except that of the late Sam Mbakwe, to prove that he remained the best man for the job?
Governor Hope Uzodimma has just won the governorship election in Imo State for a second term, what will he be remembered for after eight years in office?
A reasonable chunk of what Imo people had wanted him to do for them is in progress and some had been done. The problem he has is the opposition who have really peddled some negative information that does not really connect, but when false information is reinforced, it becomes an alternative truth. This alternative truth has been peddled to the corridors of those of us in the communities that do not really know how to quantify or ready to check out what exactly it is to differentiate the truth from falsehood. Now, the few weeks of Uzodimma’s emergence as the governor of Imo State, one of his first agenda was to recover what was stolen by his predecessors; when he started the recovery programme in the first few weeks, it takes a strong person to embark on such immediately because he is a dogged fighter, yet very strong. He has done a lot when it comes to infrastructure. Governor Hope Uzodimma understands what good road network is, yearnings of his people, especially from the grassroots. One of his greatest qualities as a governor is that he is accessible, reachable and kind-hearted. These are what the people are not allowed to see in him and know about him by their so-called opposition leaders. They do not allow the people to know the true colour and who Hope Uzodimma is. So, now I think he has achieved a lot. When one travels to Owerri, take a look from the airport to the main road, to the city, one might not recognize the extent of upgrade he has done with thorough jobs. Again, the contractors he uses are different from the contractors his predecessors used, these present builders are passionate and pay attention to details. He is a selfless governor who does not have a private building in Owerri. So, he is not such a person. Caring more with proximity to the people is one of his key tactics.
That Imo people did not like the emergence of Uzodimma in 2019 for some reasons, what is your take on that?
I remember that in Mass Communication, information could be distorted; and when it happens, the person that ends up receiving the information may be misinterpreted to mean another thing. Uzodimma sees Imo projects as his baby and this is what the oppositions refuse to let people see and understand; they also know he is better than them. Again, let me take you to the Bible. It is only God that has the power to make kings, leaders and presidents. Today, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the president of Nigeria, too many may not like him, do not want him, did not vote for him, but if God does not want him to be the president, the same God could have removed him; Maybe he has some good agenda for the country and God allowed him, let us also watch and see. In the case of Governor Uzodimma having known him the much I do, about 6,000 years ago in Israel, there used to be a king called Saul. God spoke through a prophet that King Saul, son of Kish, did not mean well for the people of Israel, even as a reigning king, but when this prophecy came, all eyes were on ground looking around and asking who is this man that would replace our King Saul, to their greatest surprise, God appointed someone from the peasant house of Jesse, named David who was the smallest. The day this prophecy came, David was in the field taking care of the sheep, and that is the way God can replace kings. Now, the emergence of Hope Uzodimma as the governor of Imo state was strongly spiritual. It would have been like another eight years backward if Uzodimma did not come on board. It is good for some of us who are spiritually conscious to let other people understand that Hope emerged as governor through the decision of a Supreme Court does not mean he is illegal. He is not illegal. He has beaten the record of every other past governors except that of Dee Sam Mbakwe. Before the end of his second tenure, you will see other greater works. It is also good for people to be spiritually aware, like when it comes to Christianity, nobody has the capacity to see God. There are a large number of people that are not strong spiritually, they did not understand what Christianity is all about. They still believe that a human being can see and speak to God. God is mystery, it is good to disseminate the good news. I can categorically tell the governor is better than most people within and outside the corridors of power, he is a better person.
Considering the fact that security system in Imo State is not too pleasant for investors and investment, what would be your advice to the governor in this second term?
The governor is doing a lot to quell the ‘unknown’ gunmen issue. Again, taking a leaf from the Bible, when David unseated King Saul, Saul did not take it lightly, he ran mad and the Bible said, Saul had melancholy, he was chasing David all over the place, wanting to kill him. At a point, the arrow missed him by the whiskers; when Hope Uzodimma unseated Emeka Ihedioha, oppositions ganged up to make the state ungovernable.
Why is Orlu axis a no-go area in terms of insecurity?
It is a no-go area because the opposition know that is his domain. They want to fight him from his household where he comes from.
How would all these be restored especially the fact that Imo State needs investors; should even be a tourism state, what should the governor do in the remaining four years?
The governor is already doing a lot, but if he gives me the audience to advise him on what he could do; one of the things I would tell him is to recruit people of like minds, it may help create a saner place. Let me also tell you that Imo is not as hostile as people project or portray it. I just came back from Imo, most of the political campaigns I embarked on, I did it without security details. Truly, I drove through with a state-of-the-art car, so it is not as bad as we think. Again, the social media is not helping us, they have their advantages, with lots of disadvantages. Again, I want you to also note that the insecurity in the land is not only in Imo, but all over. This is new age, and there are a lot of hostilities springing up. Do not forget the hospitality nature of the city with more night clubs than Lagos, has there ever been any attack at any night club in Imo? Why is the issue being blown out of proportion. I can tell you that because I am a non-partisan politician, if Hope Uzodimma is not doing well, I will also tell him, but he is doing well.
The governor won election in almost all the LGAs, to mean that Imo is now an APC state, is it the wish of the people to become an APC state?
Well, the Bible said, what was hidden from the wise and prudent will one day be revealed to the babies and sucklings. So, when it started, it might not appear rosy, it may not be people’s wish to belong to a certain party, but as things go on, one could begin to see benefits and regret being earlier among other parties.
At a recent press conference addressed by the newly elected Governor Uzodimma, he asked his opponents to join hands to build the state; what would you advise the key opponents like the PDP, LP, AGPA to do?
I will advise them to simply join their hands with the executive governor and build the state if they have the interest of the state at heart. I took part in the election and I knew that Uzodimma’s landslide victory was not a fluke neither was it fabricated. The election was won the way you saw it. At a point, the opposition candidates saw the winning and stopped mobilizing their people. I come from Ikeduru Local Government Area, I told my people that Uzodimma is our project because he is an infrastructure man. Mbaise factor plays a very important role in Imo politics just like Mbaitoli Ikeduru which has the highest local government in the country; we happen to be a swing local government because where we swing to wins. From the founding of Imo State, where the Mbaitoli LGA swings to, definitely wins. So, we try to make sure we hold Mbaitoli single handedly. During the election, I was not only caring for my ward, but drove all round Mbaitolu Ikeduru to make sure we are swinging together. So, to the opposition, they should do the right thing. The honest truth is that everybody cannot be the governor at the same time, especially some who do not have the quality and capabilities to govern a state. Uzodimma has what it takes to govern a state.
Now, one can see the gradual developmental plan of Lagos State from the time of Tinubu through Sanwo-Olu, I am yet to see that kind of developmental stride in Imo, why? If one cannot point at a particular project, the governor might be termed a non-performer.
In leadership, there is what is called continuity. When one comes to the Imo case, they are found wanting. The governor that vacated the seat before this present administration, when it comes to road networks, it was during the reign of Rochas Okorocha that people knew what was called China road. Now, with China roads, it makes continuity a bit difficult for the next person. If his predecessor had put in the best and delivered, the succeeding governor would not have difficulties continuing from where his predecessor stopped. That is the problem in Imo State, if you check after Mbakwe’s era, Udenwa and Ohakim tried a little, others did not try, instead they came to loot massively. How would somebody with a looting spirit dream good of the land, yet, such people have followers. I can categorically tell you that anybody who will take over from Governor Uzodimma after his tenure in office will enjoy continuity and one will see what we are seeing in Lagos today. There were some buildings during Rochas tenure which collapsed by itself, now, the governor is building them into quality. Imo people will benefit based on continuity.
What about the different statues raised allover Owerri then by former Governor Rochas Okorocha?
Those things were like flash in the pan. They were things put in place to deceive people, which did not bring any value. It was like rulership and not leadership.
A lot of people say Imo is blessed with citizens with quality education, yet being governed by bad leaders, we are yet to see the dividend of democracy in Imo after almost 20 years?
Now, when it comes to leadership in Imo, we are a naturally gifted state, we live and enjoy life, therefore, hospitality is our thing; Imo people might not start looking around for oil money, but while trying to contest your question, I can tell you that the people in Anambra are the ones that are investing in Imo the more. Imo state is a conducive place. Let me also tell you that education does not mean good leadership. I decided not to go further after my first degree because I believe in inspiration. In Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe ran mad even as the most educated leader in the world, so when people say that Imo State has more educated people, that is fine, educated people are also in other states, but these educated ones might not understand the yearnings and difficulties. Imo should not look at the very educated ones, instead look for gifted leaders.
Where is the place of women in Uzodimma’s administration?
A woman was his running mate. If you know him well, he loves women multi-taskers and achievers a lot. With an understanding of their position, they are present in his cabinet. Even some men grumble over juicy positions given to women, but the governor knows women will always deliver.