By Dickson Okafor
Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo-Okom, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State and former Chief Whip of the state House of Assembly, has said that with the level of hunger and hardship in the country President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policy and reforms should have a human face for Nigerians to be alive to enjoy the gains.
The APC House of Representatives candidate for Orumba North/South Federal Constituency, Anambra State in the 2015 and 2019 general elections assured those travelling during the Yuletide to their towns in the Southeast that the arrest of Simon Ekpa in Finland and his being remanded in prison could have some positive impact in security of the Southeast.
Okonkwo-Okom who was secretary of the Constitution Review Committee that reviewed the founding Constitution of APC in 2014 said that he has no objection to the appointment of Iyom Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, saying otherwise, Anambra State or Southeast is not in short supply of capable individuals that can serve in such capacity.
On the continued increase in energy cost both in terms of electricity and petroleum products, he opined that the fund realized are being used to encourage strong industrial base of the European world.
He also spoke on next governorship election in Anambra State, the effects of loans on Nigerians and the plot by the League of Northern Democrats for power to shift to the North in 2027.
Excerpts:
Are you in support or against the appointment of Amb. Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu being a staunch member of APGA while there are capable members of APC like you in Anambra State that are qualified to serve in that capacity?
Yes, ordinarily members of the political party in power, the All Progressive Congress (APC) will constitute the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu, and would be the beneficiaries of government appointments and that is natural. But this is politics, in some circumstances you will see a thing like this. Because government involves a lot of things and also winning election involves a lot of things and winning or taking power involves a lot of process and hard work. So, while members of the party in power would expect to benefit from sharing of appointments, the party in power will also try to consolidate. Therefore, to see the external frontiers is not a surprising thing to some of us especially in states where the ruling party had done poorly, they could be seen to expand the frontiers to strengthen and fortify the support base of APC in places the party seems to be weak. Again, APC government has not declared to run government of national unity. But sometimes it needs not to be declared hence you can see some element of it in the composition of federal appointments. In President Tinubu’s cabinet and other appointments, the technocrats are represented, women and youths are equally represented. And in this case, some parties are included which the party has some understanding with. So, I have nothing against the appointment of Iyom Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. And I want to use this medium to congratulate her because she is eminently qualified and we expect that she will impact not only Anambra State, but the entire Southeast and the nation positively when it comes to share of national cake.
Your Senatorial zone is among the zones and constituencies INEC will conduct bye-election because of the death of Sen. Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah who represented Anambra South Senatorial District, do you intend to run because he was a member of APC?
I don’t intend to run even though I’m a member of the APC and I’m from Anambra South Senatorial district. The late Ebubechukwu Uzo, Sen Ifeanyi Ubah did not win that seat on the platform of APC. So, there is nothing special about party in this situation. However, some people have brought the idea of encouraging the wife to step up and fill the vacancy. And we have precedence for such things, we have seen it happen before and if it happens in this case, I wouldn’t say it is out of place because to them, is something one must show some element of capacity, interest and competence because that is the fate of the entire Anambra South Senatorial District. So, motion, sentiment must be in there, but then the hard fact must be considered. If she is found worthy, I have no objection to that otherwise, Anambra State or Southeast is not in short supply of capable individuals. I’m hearing rumours that some people are stepping out, but I will play active role to ensure whoever emerges in the bye-election is the best possible we can produce.
The Supreme Court has affirmed Ezeokenwa as APGA national chairman and barred Dozie Njoku from parading self, meaning the crisis is being resolved and with Amb. Bianca Ojukwu’s appointment by President Tinubu into his cabinet, what does this portend for APC chances in next year’s governorship election in Anambra State?
If the dispute surprised anybody, it didn’t surprise me. As a lawyer, I have seen the facts in the issues in the case and my take which I have communicated to many of friends even though some argued and some found it unacceptable because of oaths, but I told them that if the judiciary does the right thing Edozie Njoku has no chance in the matter. Apparently, the Supreme Court has done the right thing. And the impact on Anambra State APC, we are not afraid of contest and we are not paying for undue advantage. It is unfair to seek some legal handicap for your political opponent so that you can have an easy ride, it is not the aspiration of APC. Let everybody be in the race so that whosoever wins, wins the mandate of the people. As a politician, I have always made it clear that I’m in politics for development, for the welfare of my people. I’m not in politics for personal aggrandizement or my own personal interest or wellbeing. In that case, the essence of being in politics like I have stated will always be to support any person who has done well because that is what we are looking for. We are looking for a good governor for our state, we are looking for good representatives for our Senatorial districts and in our constituencies and we are looking for good governance for the entire country. In this regard, Governor Chukwuma Soludo is doing wonderfully well. I don’t mince words, Governor Soludo has surpassed expectations and Anambrians have never had it so good. We are impressed as at today. If he carries it till election day and he wins I won’t be surprised. But then it is going to be a level playing field for every contestant. So, nobody is going to bar anybody to win. Soludo’s own records and achievements will speak for him and I think those who will run against him have a herculean task at hand.
As Christmas celebration is around the corner, what are some security measures put in place by the governors in the Southeast for those coming home for the Yuletide even as there was security during the burial of Sen Ifeanyi Ubah, is there a security structure that can guarantee security of people during the Christmas celebration?
No, I’m not in a position to assure anybody’s security during this year’s Christmas celebration in the Southeast because I have no means of mandate, power or authority. The security situation in the Southeast is nothing to write home about. It is a very big cause for concern and we are always hoping and expecting improvement. One of the people who are really, at least, the separatist group has disowned one of their own as somebody is doing something contrary to their original plan and programme. The arrest of Simon Ekpa in Finland and remand in prison, we are optimistic that it could have some positive impact in security in Southeast. Because predominantly that single individual has been the most potent threat security-wise in the zone and if he is removed from circulation we expect to reap from that. That is my hope. Again, the Southeast governors are not sleeping especially in Anambra State, Governor Soludo is not sleeping. We are expecting him to come up with prima sanction to tackle insecurity and provide peaceful atmosphere for our people during this Yuletide. The governors have assured us and Soludo has embarked on activities to ensure our people enjoyed peaceful Christmas celebration. It is obvious that our people don’t joke with Yuletide. Most of the roads have been fixed, those with potholes have been fixed and new ones are being constructed. New contracts are being awarded for street lights as the state is being beautified and upgraded. In fact, Governor Soludo has reduced Anambra to one huge construction site.
Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief with the revamping of the Port Harcourt Refinery which commenced operations some few days ago, do you see the price of fuel going down soon?
Actually, the politics in the petroleum sector confounds many of us. We don’t know what is driving the challenges in that sector. It’s bewildering because Nigeria is the largest producer of petroleum in Africa.
Why would petroleum products not be cheaper in Nigeria? Why would anybody feed us with recommendations that will make it difficult to access petroleum products in a place like Nigeria where it is produced? It is really confusing. The authorities that advise us, the bodies that make these recommendations like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international financial institutions in the western world, where they are based, the cardinal thrust of economic being always receive special attention. If it is subsidy removal, they will adhere to it. like in Nigeria and third world countries, some of these petroleum industries need to stand on their own and compete with industries in the West, in Asia, China, Japan, the whole of Europe and America. There is no way a child like a toddler in these regions should not be encouraged, guided and protected to grow and stand on its own feet. So, energy cost both in terms of electricity and petroleum products should be used to encourage strong industrial base of the European world. A report bought hook, line and sinker, which shows that European world has stabilized and that we should emulate such is wrong.
President Tinubu made a profound declaration at the G20 Leaders Summit in Brazil when he said reforms have weakened Nigeria’s purchasing power and vowed that FG would continue to prioritise social investment programme to cushion the effects of hunger and hardship, can these reforms revive Nigeria’s economy?
What is going on defiles understanding and logic. In 1986 under President Ibrahim Babangida, he implemented Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), we saw the pitfalls and Nigeria kept on when we believed we ought not have swallowed that economic policy hook, line and stinker, which was the proscription of World Bank or International Monetary Fund (IMF). Thirty-eight years after, Nigeria still has not learnt any lesson from the prescriptions from these world monetary bodies in the Western world. It is bewildering and we don’t understand. Ordinarily, look at some dictatorship in Africa and elsewhere, tend to be doing well because we refused to reject prescription from these western monetary institutions. These prescriptions have been used to trap us using it as a bait.
The Senate has the Tax Reform Bills, but the Northern governors and some members of the National Assembly from the region are against the bill, saying it will favour the southern part of the country, what is your take?
What is the implication of the Tax Reform? Is it not the same Nigerians suffering its effects? Personally, I have always advocated for appropriate taxation as it is elsewhere in the world. The reason is not for Nigerians to suffer for payment of high taxation, but it is a way you awaken a docile population. Because Nigerians don’t pay tax and there is a whole lot of corruption going on in our oil money and anything can go because they believe that our commonwealth is nobody’s money. And this goes on from year to year, regime to regime and nobody cares that is why we find ourselves in an economic mess. Any day Nigerians pay tax out of their sweat they won’t mess up with their money. So, if paying taxes will awakenbthe the docile Nigeria public, so be it.
FG has taken fresh loan of $2.2bn, but so far with the previous loans taken, we don’t see its effect, how do the NASS approve new loan. Is there something here that Nigerians don’t know?
I place those things on the door step of foreign imperial authorities. Foreign predatory governments holding Nigeria, holding Africa from developing at the jugular and dedicating to them how to handle things is a very big challenge. This mandate to govern Nigeria is in the hands of Nigerians. It should be handled in such a way that Nigerians will have the power to say who to rule them and would and would not rule them. And when that happened any government that has the mandate of Nigerians can call off foreign influences and treat Nigerians the way they deserved to be treated. To our economy in our best interest and if they package these loans to trap and enslave us, should we not have the option to say yes or no to it? But right now the way our government is carrying on looks as if we have no choice, shows that we are being compelled to take this loan in order to rope ourselves into foreign manipulation and control. So, I desire electoral reform in this country that should place in the hands of Nigerians the power to select their leaders and should place Nigerian leaders in a position to know that the source of their power is from the Nigeria people. And once you are able to treat them well, you have nobody to fear outside the country. But because of the loopholes or somebody might not feel comfortable being left in the hands of Nigerian electorate because if Nigerians are to say who rules them, are they going to be the one or not. So, in that circumstance, how do you do it? In that circumstance, it becomes as if somebody has been foisted on the country and those who foisted them dictate how to manage Nigerians.
Some Northern leaders have formed the League of Northern Democrats led by the former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, to ensure power shifts to North in 2027 because they claimed that the region has been marginalized in appointment by the Tinubu-led administration, don’t you see the move as a huge threat to Tinubu’s re-election?
It is all recreation of Nigerian in the vicious circle of ineptitude, parochialism, tribalism, ethnicity, religion and no consideration for merit, for fairness, for justice, for propriety and due process. What Nigerian leaders consider is simply my region, my religion, my tribe and that is all. In the circumstance now, we had former President Muhammadu Buhari and we thought Nigeria could never be worst thereafter. And the region that produced Buhari are again coming to take it back within one year after Buhari left office. They think Tinubu is not doing well, they should be thinking of which zone in this country that has not been tried. We have tried some zones since 1999. We tried the Southwest twice, the North twice and the South-south once and they all failed, but have we tried the six geopolitical zones? No, this thing lack sincerity. So, anybody or group trying anything to do for power shift to their zone are not doing it for the good and welfare of the country, but for selfish purpose.
You just re-echoed what former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon advised the group when they paid him a visit, is there any way Nigeria’s unity will be paramount without good governance?
Unfortunately, the period when Gen Gowon should have said this thing and it could have made impact he did not say anything. Gowon presided over Nigeria at a very turning point in the history of this country. And the lyrics of the effects of his era we are still suffering till today. When he was creating the 12 states out of the regions, what were his considerations? Was he creating Nigeria to compete globally for economic growth? Or was he simply guided by policies of suppression and subjugation. Why would they create Kwara State in that era across left and right of River Niger and River Benue? And say River Niger has divided Southeast and Midwest. So, if you go to Imo and Rivers states, one single village called Egbema has 13 villages and the other community has 17 villages, the 13 villages ruled by one traditional ruler called Nze Obi Egbema are in Imo State and four are in Rivers State, the same community. The four that have the highest concentration of oil well was cut out into Rivers State. And when you get Imo State you have community called Ohaji Egbema and in Rivers State you will found a community called Egbema Ndoni, the same people. If you go to Abia State, Ukwa axis and Ibio Igbo axis in Rivers State, it’s the same thing. I was with a friend in Ndoni and I saw a House of Assembly member from Abia State in his house and they say they came for family meeting in Rivers State. Is the same Imo River thing and they are the same kindred, when they marry is either the marriage takes place across Imo River in Abia State or in Indoni in Rivers State, the same family. Gowon did all these to bastardise Igbo land. Did he do it to promote peace and stability in the country? No. The problem with Nigerian leaders is that none of them learnt from the mistake of the other. Like you talked about Shakarau and his group called the League of Northern Democrats, what is their driving force, what is their driving philosophy or principle? It is religion and ethnicity. Are they now thinking retrospectively; who, where and how do we produce the best administrative government in this country? And if we have good administrative governance, this country won’t be difficult to fix. So, those are not in the picture or scheme of the so-called league of Northern Democrats.
Many believe that with the way the opposition parties are cowed by the ruling party plus the recent mass defection of House Representatives member of the Labour Party to APC that the country may have one party system and PDP has asked Atiku Abubakar not to contest the Presidency again in 2027 as they look forward to fielding a young candidate, if younger person is elected in 2027, do you think he will achieve the objectives you just narrated?
I tell you straightaway, Atiku Abubakar is a good man, he is a strong politician and he is a patriot by every standard, but having said all these, his effort to be the leader of this country has failed. It shouldn’t be difficult for him to achieve it, he can be more effective at this time as a king maker. It should not be difficult for him to see that it is going to be easier for him. It will be a legacy for him in this country. It will be decisive if he decides to be a king maker. What my party, the APC, is doing is natural. If you are in a party in power, PDP did it, you don’t encourage your opponents to come up, but with appropriate focus and concentration and leadership, the opposition will overcome the shortcomings of the ruling party. Because APC overcame that of PDP in 2015 and the way things are going if the opposition puts things together and really encourage younger person to be its flagbearer in 2027 to point the way forward for them and really play leadership role instead of being in the arena themselves. Because in politics your contributions may be held in suspicion if your saying something and you are also interested in the ultimate. But if you are able to accept and understand that you are not interested in this, but you are being optimistic they will accept your leadership and your opinion.