By Dickson Okafor
The new Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Emeka Nduka, member representing Ehime Mbano State Constituency for the All Progressives Congress (APC) has spoken on his recent emergence.
In this interview, he spoke on a wide range of issues.
Congratulations for recently assuming the Speakership of Imo State House of Assembly, how do you feel when you were announced as the next Speaker?
It was a surprise to me because it is not a permanent seat for anyone. Many have been in that position since the creation of Imo State till it got to me. Thank our amiable Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma and my colleagues who deemed it fit and capable to steer the Assembly. My colleagues and I have resolved to pass bills that will enable Governor Uzodinma to continue his infrastructural development of the state. So, the Assembly under my watch will be supportive to His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodinma to continue his transformation of Imo State.
Many would want to know what you are bringing to the table for the effectiveness of the Assembly
First, few days ago, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari was in Imo State and commissioned projects constructed by Governor Uzodinma. These include Owerri/Orlu road, Owerri/ Okigwe road; he commissioned the refurbished Imo State House of Assembly. Therefore, with the speed at which Uzodimma is transforming Imo, it has inspired me to ensure that the legislative arm will be supportive in this race. While in the Assembly chamber, we all as representatives of our local government areas, will ensure we set political platform through which we are elected and jointly debate in support of any bill that will see to the wellbeing of our people. Because whatever project we want to attract to our constituencies, must past through the governor who also will approve such projects. However, I will ensure we work as a team to ensure Imo State is better than we met it.
As insecurity persists in Imo State with killings taking place on daily bases, what would the state lawmakers do to nip it in the bud under your charge?
Is it only in Imo State we have security problem in Nigeria? It is not only in Imo State we are witnessing insecurity but virtually in all parts of South-East and in the entire country. Every day you hear of kidnapping, banditry and killings of innocent Nigerians in the North, especially Reverend fathers and well meaning Nigerians across the country and you are referring to only Imo State. Insecurity is a national challenge and is not only in Imo State. Thank God, Governor Uzodinma is tackling it headlong and he has asked them to drop their arms and come for dialogue. This is also the path the Assembly has toed and will continue to make laws that will end insecurity in Imo State. In spite of insecurity challenges, life is rosy for Imolites. Meanwhile, the worst thing anyone can do is to engage in crime as an option to survive because they will not be alive to enjoy whatever they got through crime. The state government is doing everything within its power to improve the standard of living of the people. The state government has employment programmes to reduce unemployment which is not mainly the cause of banditry and kidnapping. Today, most youths are meaningfully engaged through skill acquisition, discovery and development of their potentials and through self efforts, many young Nigerians are employers of labour instead of seeking jobs. Don’t forget that the immediate past administration under Sen. Rochas Okorocha amassed the state resources, hence, he almost turned Imo State into his private enterprise. So, the present administration and the people of the state are fighting hard to recover our stolen wealth and property from the last administration.
The recent reconciliation of serving and former councilors loyal to Governor Hope Uzodinma and former governor Okorocha in Ihitte Uboma LGA is believed to be a unification of factions of APC in the area, do you share the same view?
APC is not factionalized in Imo State. Yes, various forms of reconciliations took place in Imo immediately Governor Uzodinma assumed office. So, the former and serving councilors in Ihitte Uboma LGA of the state decided to bury their hatchets and come together to work for the interest of Imo State. Yes, there are some aggrieved members of the party in the area and in the state led by Sen. Okorocha but they have all buried their grievances and joined hands with Governor Uzodimma in his developmental strides in Imo State. It is a thing of joy for the people of Imo to see quality infrastructural development being executed by Uzodimma since he came into office. Therefore, every member of the ruling party in the state has all aligned with the governor in his progressive adventure in Imo State. In spite of distractions by some disgruntled elements in the state, the governor has continued to touch the lives of Ndi Imo positively.
The choice of Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC Presidential flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not go down well with Christians, isn’t that an act to undermine balance of power in the country?
I want to assure Christians in the country that Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Kashim Shettima Presidency will unite Nigeria more because the two are competent with credible antecedents. Don’t forget that Nigeria is a secular state and every religion is accommodated and given opportunity to flourish. But because of our diversity, balance of power becomes necessary in order for all to be involved in the governance process. Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian tickets shouldn’t be an issue but competence and capacity of candidates to fix the country should be our major concern. However, because of the diverse nature of Nigeria, that is why Muslim-Christian or Christian-Muslim tickets are paramount in Presidential election. Meanwhile, as we progress democratically, the nation has advanced beyond religious matchmaking. As we approach next year’s general elections, Nigerians are no longer interested in the religion or political parties of the Presidential candidates; instead, they want a competent and experienced person to be the next president of the country. That is why our concern should not be which religion the candidate belongs but his or her antecedents. Right now, what Nigerians are clamouring for is competent and unbiased individuals to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari; someone that can guarantee good governance in the country. And Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu posses these leadership qualities and he decided to choose someone who has the same qualities to be his running mate. The former Governor of Borno State and a serving Senator, Kashim Shettima is a perfect match with Tinubu. He holds masters degree in Agricultural Economics, hence to many Nigerians, he is qualified to be Tinubu’s running-mate in next year’s Presidential election. I want my fellow Christians to support Tinubu/ Shettima ticket because they are competent and their antecedents show they will transform Nigeria if elected in 2023. This is more so with Shettima’s experience in financial management as well as a former governor of Borno State and a current serving Senator. What is required from the leadership of APC is for them to convince Christians in Nigeria that under Tinubu/Shettima, the country will continue as a secular state and that is how they will sail through with Tinubu/Shettima brand. They must first muster enough courage to calm the raging storm in the minds of Christians and Muslims across the country.
The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi is enjoying the overwhelming support of youths; don’t you see Obi emerging as the next President with the votes of these teeming youths?
Youths are not the only ones that will decide who becomes next President even though they will make significant impact in next year’s general election. Little wonder when you say youths because I know that not all the Nigeria youths are supporting Peter Obi’s presidency. There are a lot of youths who are acute supporters of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and they are working hard to ensure he emerges next President of Nigeria. So, I’m confident that Tinubu will win next year’s Presidential election. His antecedents place him above the other candidates with the way the agenda through which he transformed Lagos State into a mega city. He initiated the Lagos Master Plan through which successive governments in the state sustained till date. Therefore, Nigerians are hopeful that he will replicate such gesture in the federal level if elected President. Before the emergence of Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State in 1999, most areas in the state were shanties and ghettos but immediately Tinubu took over as governor, Lagos became a new city because of aggressive infrastructural development that has taken place since 1999 till date. So, the APC presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is competent and has the experience to develop the country. It will be unfair for anyone to conclude that Nigerian youths will vote for only Peter Obi when you consider the high rate of youths’ support for Tinubu. Again, elections are not won on the social media or on the pages of newspaper. You must have strong political structures across the country and this cannot be built within a short period of time. Tinubu has been building his political structure all over the country since 1999 till date. The ruling APC under President Buhari promised to tackle three critical areas which include, insecurity, corruption and the economy. So far, the government has transformed Nigeria’s economy as we have started to produce rice and other food items locally. The fight against corruption is yielding result under the APC-led government as corruption has reduced drastically. We have witnessed how some civil servants and government officials were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for misappropriation of public funds. You can see how the Buhari administration is fighting and dismantling terrorists, bandits and kidnappers rendering them baseless. And very soon, they will be completely flushed out of the country. So, Nigerians have decided to vote for APC Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.