From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Benedict Onyewuenyi is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and presently the National Chairman of PDP Rebrand Imo . In this interview, he explained why PDP should be at the helms of affairs in the state after the November, 11 governorship election and also talked about insecurity in the state among other issues.
On November 11, the state would be having a governorship election and looking at what’s going on in your party now, especially chief Emeka Ihedioha not supporting the candidature of senator Samuel Anyanwu, don’t you think this is a bad omen for your party going into the election?
Yes our party is not in control of power at the National but that does not mean we do not have a way of handling our internal crisis; the relationship between the former governor, Emeka Ihedioha and our candidate will not deter the party; in time like this, we forget personal interest and focus on what it will benefit us collectively. We’re party members conscious of what to give to the public, the intimidating offer from APC is actually cracking the harmony of the party but will not last with the past election and activities of the party of APC and the situation we’re in Nigeria has shown the path to take. I believe that what we need in Imo State is just for peace to come back and we must achieve that by saying a neutral person should come in to take over.
The three major contenders, senator Hope Uzodimma, Samuel Anyanwu and Athan Achonu were all former members of your party but now contesting under different platforms, have you ever had any regret that this happening?
I don’t see that as a problem, what we’re looking at is a change of direction in government; we needed the best among all of them. I must tell you Imo State is no more how it used to be. Things have really fallen apart; there are lots of frayed nerves not discussing politics anymore because of failures of party leaders. The three of them are people I know very well; I’ve had cause to interact with them so many years back. They were senators in PDP and now contesting under different parties; they all know that if they were in PDP, it would have been a better party for them but just because of personal interests, they all moved to different parties. That can’t change the party that has got the wherewithal and knows the issues of Nigeria, economically and otherwise. PDP is a centralised party that cohabits citizens from all states if you notice.
But do you really see a truce at last between senator Samuel Anyanwu and Ihedioha?
He has no option than to support him; anyone can be bitter about what politics has brought to your table but it’s better that you throw away all these sentiments. I don’t see our former deputy Speaker who cannot swallow whatever has happened for the interest of the party and the people. If he’s happy the way Imo is now, so be it. I feel for him the way he was ousted from office. I think he should look at the pain and look from there to reconsider that the party could actually come in; there is nothing that cannot be amended no matter what has happened. The PDP in Imo State are already coming together; it’s all about carrying everybody along which Sam Daddy has an open arm for. They’re seeing a wider scope of what we’re talking about; we would even encourage him to do more; they should go to every individual to pacify them to tell them, this is what we need in Imo State.
Is it true that former governor Rochas Okorocha is plotting to support Sam Daddy?
Every politician and leader in Imo State knows that right now, the best thing that can ever happen to Imo is a change of baton. When one party compromises, its ability to take over leadership cannot be trusted. PDP has compromised its candidates and dealings of political affairs in Imo State and if anybody feels because of incumbency or authority or power for money wants to choose wrongly, it’s at his own peril because there is nobody that does not have a business or family in Imo State. If you throw a stone inside the market, you don’t know who it’s going to meet, so everybody should come in. Rochas is one of us; every politician should look at what’s best for the state for peace to rain, for there to be security and for the economy of the state. Imo used to be a home for tourism but today it’s no longer like that; people are afraid to die; we’re not asking for too much, the governor is trying his best but we’re looking for someone who will give us that peace once more and I believe we are going to achieve it .
Have heard about charter of equity in the state?
This has been on and on even before Okorocha,Udenwa; why should it be a criteria for us now. We’re talking about representation, what has that got to do with our manifesto. If we must talk about charter of equity, we must start now. If he’s serious about what he is saying, let Owerri zone take its position now and I must add to this; we actually did not have a governor because he did not contest any election. This coming election should be a free and fair election that every citizen should be allowed to come and vote and we’re looking at this coming election if the present President needs the acceptability, conformity and romance between South South and other zones.
Back to your candidate, Anyanwu, what do you think he can do different from others that have been there?
He has been a seasoned administrator, he’s been nurtured from grassroots as a politician and he has technocrats around him. Senator Sam is well schooled; he was a two time Local Government chairman and rose to become a state assembly member. In his first assignment at the Senate, he was given ethics and privilege committee with other sub committees that he was a member; that shows the kind of person that was admired by Nigerians. It’s not only that, as a senator he attracted so many roads built by NDDC in the state.
The little he has done has shown what he would do when much is given to him; people are already celebrating him
So many say the insecurity in Imo is politically motivated, how true is this?
Yes, I’m saying this because many regions in the country are not allowing the Igbo to breathe and you know Igbo are scholars, achievers ,so they use the insecurity to paint a picture that we’re not united. I’ve realised that the issue of IPOB, I’m not talking about the respected Nnamdi Kanu who is genuinely seeking for how Igbo should and should not be treated. I’m talking about those that have been paid by political gladiators to cause mayhem; the security in Imo is caused by those who have brought in these hoodlums. I blame the governor because he ought to have considered how he came into office after Rochas. Those things like illegal immigrants, the herders and community clashes, if you’re not able to romance with your people, you’ve lost the entire state. You can’t be fighting your people and at the same time you want to take power. Do you take power by force, you’ve not been able to make peace and you want to govern? Who do you want to govern?