Honourable Sunday Umeha, a lawyer, represents Udi-Ezeagu Federal Constituency of Enugu State at the House of Representatives, where he functions at the moment as the deputy chairman, House Committee on Justice, and the chairman, Nigerian-Ethiopia Parliamentary Friendship Group.
He was elected on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) but he has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In this interview, he spoke on the reasons behind his defection and other issues of interest.
What do you make of President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to South-East states, which is considered not too much of a stronghold for him?
For me, it goes ahead to reaffirm the personality of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian, as a pan-Nigerian, as a Nigerian that believes in the unity of the country. For those that have followed him very well or have read about him, you know that this is not the first time he is showing this type of attitude of all-inclusiveness. When he was the governor of Lagos State, he inculcated in his administration people outside the South-South-West enclave. You have many southeasterners in his administration, some serving as SSAs and some serving in different capacities. You also have others from the northern part of the country. And that shows the unity in his posture, the unity in his administration.
So, coming on board as the president of the Republic of Nigeria, I’m not surprised seeing him trying to carry everybody along because there was a time in this country where a particular president described the South- East as a dot in a circle. But today, the area is now a home for this administration. You can see the president visiting Imo State, though that is an APC state, but he capped it up by his visit to Enugu, an opposition state. Now, his recent visit to Anambra State shows a sense of inclusion, a sense of understanding. It shows the disposition of Mr. President to carry the people along. And also it gives a special feeling to the people of the South-East, the Igbo, that truly APC government is their government.
Why did you say so?
If you look at the achievement of APC within these two years, particularly in the southeastern region, you will marvel. For example, you look at the South-East Development Commission, its establishment. This was a bill that was introduced about the 7th or 8th Assembly. It has never seen the light of the day. But just within one to two years in the 10th Assembly, the president assented to it to tell you that actually he has a place in his heart for the people of the southeastern Nigeria.
Look at the continuous developmental projects going on in our region: The Enugu-Port-Harcourt Express Road, the Enugu-Anita Express Road, the Second Niger Bridge, the second access way to the Second Niger Bridge, the flyover or the interchange going on in Eke Obinagu, along Enugu-Abakaliki Express Road and the Makurdi-Obollo-Afor-Opi- 9th Mile Road. So, when you look at all these things, within two years, we are talking about what a man has done within two years, we are not talking about eight years, yet, this is what he has done for the people of the South-East, the Igbo. Such a person needs support and cooperation.
Before now, we have been crying that Igbo are marginalised. But today, the APC government is showing Igbo that sense of belonging, showing them truly you are part and parcel of Nigeria and you own equal rights with other parts of Nigeria. So far, I give a lot of kudos and applause to this administration.
Are your people happy with your defection?
Yes, it’s obvious. In law, we say the fact speak for itself. I don’t think there has been any defection that has carried the level of support my defection elicited. This is because it was a consultative defection. This is because it was a defection owned by the people. It was the choice made by the people, not by me. And that’s why all of them are happy. You know I represent largely rural areas. It’s about 85 percent to 90 percent rural areas. So these people are old men and women and young boys in the villages. You see some of them are not in the mainstream social media and all these things. So, means of communication is outside the telephone conversation. You must go down and discuss with them. I discussed with them and they gave me their blessings.
Now that you are in APC, what will your membership of the APC do for your people?
The major reason I joined the APC is because my people need intervention of government in critical areas: Infrastructure. We want intervention of the government at the center in the area of roads, roads construction. And at the moment I can tell you that it’s already gaining the attention of the relevant authorities. I have already tabled it before them. So I can tell you with every sense of sincerity that that will be done. Employment: How many of my people are in the civil service? We want a situation where we have access to civil service jobs. When we talk about empowerment, we talk about skill acquisition programmes and trainings that at the end of the day they will have take-off grants to carry out these businesses without reliance on white collar jobs. Health Sector: If you come to Ezeagu, you can’t point at any single good hospital in the entire Ezeagu local government. The same goes to Udi local government. So, we are looking at using this platform, the APC government, to see how we can attract a standard hospital in our constituency. Clean Water: We are also looking at how we can use this government to ensure that at least every community or every ward in this federal constituency has a functional solar powered borehole so that they have access to clean water. So, there are a lot of opportunities that our entrance into APC will bring to our people that were not there before. So, I can tell you that that’s the best decision and you will start seeing them.
So, in this realignment, APC Enugu seems to be the most beneficial, not only in terms of number, not only in terms of quality of people entering into the party, not only in terms of the strategic positioning of the APC in Enugu State, but I also tell you in terms of infrastructure and in terms of inclusion in governance. For example, for the first time we’re having a son of the soil as the chief of naval staff. It is a win-win for APC Enugu State. Also, the ongoing construction of Makurdi – Obollo Afor, Opi, 9th Mile Road, is also a win for APC. The Eke Obinagu Interchange, that is Enugu-Ebonyi Road, is also a win-win. You talk about the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, you talk about Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. From every ramification, in fact, there was also a project that the Honorable Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation also attracted to Enugu, and that is the solar power assembling plant or something at Ugbawka in his hometown. I had the privilege to be part of the team that went for the flag off of that project. And it’s a multi-billion Naira project, ongoing, courtesy of APC government.
So, look at also the inclusion of our two sons, Ugochukwu Agballa and Toby Okechukwu in the South East Development Commission. Also, look at the housing of South -East Development Commission that’s making Enugu as the capital or the headquarters of that South -East Development Commission. So, many other things that the APC government is doing in Enugu State. And that’s why people are trooping, into APC in Enugu, people seeing those things. They have seen that Enugu is at the epicenter of benefit when it comes to talk about this administration. So, everybody wants to be part of it. Or do we talk about our sons that have been given a sense of belonging? Okay, look at the DG of Raw Material, look at the young man that is the representative of Enugu in the RAMFAC. There are numerous of them. I can also tell you reliably that in a few days to come, you may also be hearing about other indigenes of Enugu State who will be appointed board members of strategic boards in Nigeria. So, it’s all about win-win for APC in Enugu State. And it will continue to be.
With APC in Enugu State, what do your people hope to gain in future from it?
Enugu people. What we want to gain in future is a government that is people’s driven, people’s friendly. Government that will feel the pulse of the people. Government that will liberate Enugu State. Government that will turn around the infrastructural face of Enugu State. Government that will revolutionise industry and Faces of Enugu State. Government that will revolutionised industries because we’re looking at industrialisation of Enugu. The only way we can create employment is to industrialise.
How many industries do we have in Enugu State? What effort are we making to create industries in Enugu State? It is only when these industries are created that employment opportunities will be generated. So APC government, we’re looking at a government that will come in, create industries in Enugu, and industrialise Enugu State. At the same time, we’re looking at a government that will come and give our people a sense of belonging.
So I look up to a lot of good things from APC. And honestly, the way the whole thing is going, it shows that truly, that our belief in APC will not fail us. Rather, it will benefit us a lot. So, I see Enugu at the end of the day being one of the most benefiting states in terms of APC governance in Nigeria. I will look up to taking over the Lion Building as a ruling party in Enugu State. You know, I keep telling you how it will happen, I don’t know. But surely it will come to pass. That will be a fantastic place to be.