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Businessman, philanthropist and politician Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii is the founder and chairman of Orient Global Group and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ebonyi State governorship election. A native of Isu in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Odii was also the party’s candidate in the 2023 governorship poll.
In this interview, he speaks on his vision for Ebonyi State, his leadership philosophy and his plans for economic development, security, infrastructure and governance, as well as the political dynamics shaping the 2027 governorship race. Odii insisted he was not intimidated by the ruling APC in the state, arguing that the real power of incumbency rests with the people, not the party.
What is your leadership philosophy?
I believe that anyone aspiring to lead should be able to communicate his ideas and objectives through the media so they can be properly interrogated to determine whether he has the capacity and knowledge required for governance. Today, one of Nigeria’s greatest challenges is leadership. Leadership is the foundation of development. We may have everything required to develop as a nation, but without the right leadership, it becomes very difficult for our country to make meaningful progress.
That is why I presented myself in the 2023 governorship election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. I was well accepted by my people. Unfortunately, we faced challenges because, sometimes, the voices of the people are not allowed to count. I am back again because of the lack of leadership and good governance in Ebonyi State, where I come from.
Over the years, I have contributed immensely to the development of my state as a private citizen. Through the Better Tomorrow Foundation, we have touched many lives across Ebonyi State, and everything we have done is verifiable. We have invested heavily in human capital development, youth empowerment, healthcare, education and shelter. Our foundation has single handedly built about 158 houses for indigent people in Ebonyi State. That is verifiable.
However, without political power, there is a limit to what an individual can achieve. That is why I looked at our society and realised there is much more we can do to transform it, and therefore decided to run for political office. I am running to become governor because I believe I have what it takes to develop Ebonyi State. More importantly, I believe Nigeria must work, and meaningful national development begins with effective governance at the state level.
Today, we can point to examples of good governance in some states. Imagine if every state in Nigeria enjoyed such leadership. The pressure on the media, the security agencies and even the Federal Government would be significantly reduced. What Nigeria needs today is leadership and good governance. Until we get leadership right, Nigeria cannot truly work.
Leadership must address the critical areas where we are failing as a society. This morning, I seek your support, not support that prevents you from criticising us when necessary or from reporting facts objectively, but support rooted in constructive criticism. Constructive criticism helps leaders improve. Unfortunately, some people who have misgoverned Nigeria often target the media because they understand the influence of the press, and sometimes they attempt to manipulate the media to serve their interests. That is why I believe it is important for the media to project people who have the capacity to deliver good governance.
On your aspiration to become the next governor of Ebonyi State, what is different from when you contested the last election? In concrete terms, what are your plans?
First of all, my manifesto is built around four key pillars. The first is economic reform. As of today, Ebonyi State’s economy is largely dependent on monthly allocations from the Federal Government in Abuja. We return to the state without generating sufficient Internally Generated Revenue. As someone coming from the business sector, I understand the importance of building a sustainable economy.
Ebonyi State is blessed with enormous solid mineral deposits. It is equally blessed with vast arable land and numerous tourist attractions that can be developed. My intention is to build a new economy for Ebonyi State, one that will create jobs, invest heavily in youth development, promote the creative industry and create an enabling environment for private sector driven businesses to thrive.
Each of the three senatorial zones in Ebonyi has fertile land suitable for different crops. My plan is to develop agribusiness across the state. Some areas are particularly suitable for cassava, others for maize, while others are ideal for rice cultivation. Cassava can be processed into starch, which is widely used in bread production and several manufacturing industries.
Maize is used in more than one hundred industries across Nigeria and around the world. Rice, of course, remains one of the world’s most important staple foods, and Ebonyi is already well known for rice production. These are areas where a businessman can make a significant difference.
The second pillar is solid minerals development. Oil production is becoming increasingly expensive because of the huge logistics involved. Solid minerals present Nigeria with enormous opportunities. Although mining falls under the Exclusive Legislative List, there are areas where state governments can partner with the Federal Government to ensure that minerals are processed and refined within the state. Doing so will create jobs and significantly reduce unemployment.
The third pillar is institutional reform and the rule of law. No society can develop without strong institutions and respect for the rule of law. We must tackle poverty by creating jobs and reducing unemployment among our youths, because where poverty is high, crime is also high. Statistics show that Ebonyi ranks among the poorest states in Nigeria and the poorest in the South East. There is absolutely no reason why our state should remain poor despite its enormous resources.
Our objective is to eliminate poverty through job creation, education reform and investment in healthcare. There is a popular saying that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, and without quality healthcare, meaningful development becomes impossible. These remain the core pillars of my manifesto. The principles are not different from what I presented during my previous campaign; however, as circumstances evolve, we continue to expand and refine our programmes to respond to emerging realities.
Today, insecurity is one of those realities. To tackle insecurity, we intend to deploy technology. However, I always say that a hungry man is an angry man. When people are hungry, they become frustrated, and frustration often leads to crime. Therefore, our first responsibility is to convert the enormous natural resources available in Ebonyi State into opportunities that benefit our people. Only then can we address insecurity sustainably.
You are not a newcomer in politics. You contested before and you are contesting again. What lessons did you learn from your previous governorship race?
The lessons are many, but I will be very precise. The most important lesson is ensuring that the people’s votes count. We all witnessed what happened during the last election. This time, we are addressing those issues. Some of the measures I can discuss publicly, while others will remain part of our campaign strategy. Our determination is that no vote cast for me or my party will be taken away by anyone. Every eligible voter must understand that his or her vote matters.
One of Nigeria’s greatest problems is that many citizens believe their votes will not count. As a result, they stay away from the polling units. We intend to educate people from the grassroots and encourage them not only to vote but also to defend their votes, because by defending their votes, they are defending their future.
Another lesson from the last election concerns preparation. We have carefully reviewed everything that happened during the previous election, and by the grace of God, we are far better prepared today than we were then.
Are you not threatened by the overwhelming power of incumbency, considering that the ruling party controls both the state and the Federal Government?
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A few days ago, I saw a clip of the governor speaking in the media, and I am sure many of you also saw it. But I believe power belongs to God and power also belongs to the people. Am I intimidated? No. Am I afraid? No, that is because I know the masses are with us. I am not scared of anything.
The real power of incumbency rests with the people. Sometimes, people simply need to be educated to understand that power does not belong to those in government; it belongs to the citizens. That is why I am going to the people. I am not going against the people.
The PDP you belong to has experienced internal crises. Which faction does INEC recognise, and which one do you belong to?
There is only one PDP recognised by law. INEC, as an institution established by law, recognises one PDP. Any suggestion that there are two recognised PDPs is simply propaganda intended to distract people. I believe in the rule of law. It is one of the pillars of my manifesto. The group recognised by law is the authentic PDP. You cannot benefit from a process that you have refused to respect.
If you study the legal disputes carefully, you will see that there were several occasions when court orders were ignored. When a court issues an order, you either obey it or appeal against it. You cannot simply ignore it; that is contrary to constitutional democracy. The courts, including the Supreme Court, always consider whether parties obeyed court orders. Today, there is only one legally recognised PDP, and that is the party under which I emerged as the governorship candidate in Ebonyi State.
How serious is the PDP going into this election when one of its prominent leaders is openly supporting the Federal Government?
The leader you are referring to is serving in the current administration under President Bola Tinubu; that is not hidden. Everybody knows it. He was appointed by the President. At the same time, he remains a member of the PDP. The party itself acknowledged that he accepted the appointment.
Personally, I believe performance should always come first. If you look at developments in the Federal Capital Territory today, many Nigerians acknowledge that the minister is performing. Where public resources are properly utilised, citizens benefit, and that is what matters to me. If a public official performs well, he deserves recognition regardless of political considerations. For me, governance is ultimately about performance.
Politics today appears to be driven more by personalities than political parties. What is your view?
Politics has become increasingly personality driven. If you look at what is happening today, you will see that people are paying more attention to individuals than to political parties. Why are we gaining attention across Ebonyi State? It is because people are looking at the individual who is seeking to lead them.
As I speak with you, many members and structures from other political parties are joining us. If you go to Ebonyi today, you will see that many political structures are collapsing into ours. That is happening because people are beginning to ask important questions: who is this person, what has he done, and what is he bringing to government? Nigeria will not develop simply because of political parties. Nigeria will develop when we begin to judge leaders by their competence, integrity, ideas and achievements. That is the direction we must move as a nation.
For the 2027 polls, how prepared are you to confront vote buying?
Vote buying thrives where people are not properly educated. When citizens understand the consequences, they will refuse to sell their future. Would you sell your future for five thousand or ten thousand naira? That is the question we continue to ask our people.
We are taking this message to market women, elderly citizens and rural communities. We want them to understand that the little money they receive during elections cannot secure their future. We have established campaign teams that are going from house to house, educating people. Our message is simple. Do not allow anyone to induce you to sell your vote. Poverty should not become the reason you mortgage the future of Ebonyi State.
The issue of zoning remains controversial in Ebonyi State. What is your position?
I do not see zoning as a problem. Unfortunately, politics in Ebonyi has sometimes been driven by narratives that are not supported by history. There has never been a legally documented agreement establishing a zoning formula for the governorship. From time to time, politicians introduce different narratives whenever they believe such arguments will favour them politically. People often ask whether competence should be sacrificed simply to satisfy zoning. My answer is no. Competence should always come first.
Historically, Ebonyi people came from different blocs. One bloc traces its roots to the Abakaliki axis, while another traces its roots to what is now the Afikpo axis. At the creation of the state, there was a gentleman’s understanding that because the state capital was located in Abakaliki, the first governor should emerge from the Afikpo bloc. That understanding was never implemented. Instead, the first governor came from the Abakaliki bloc. When you examine the history carefully, you will discover that the Abakaliki bloc has occupied the governorship for about twenty years, while the Afikpo bloc has had only about eight years. So if anyone wants to discuss equity, fairness and justice, those are the facts that should guide the conversation.
However, I am not contesting because of zoning. I am contesting because I am a bona fide son of Ebonyi State who believes that what the state needs today is competence. Our people deserve capable leadership. Competence, not incompetence, should determine who governs Ebonyi State.
One of the challenges facing Ebonyi State is communal clashes. How will you resolve this?
When I introduced myself earlier, I spoke about poverty and the dangers it poses to every society. If you look at developed countries, you will discover that people are generally happier because governments work to reduce poverty. Reducing poverty also reduces grievances and communal conflicts.
Ebonyi is one of the poorest states in the South East. When people are poor, they become vulnerable to manipulation, and some of the crises we have witnessed in Ebonyi have political undertones. I am a peace loving person. I do not like conflict. The best approach is to engage people, understand their problems and solve them. Farmers should be encouraged to return to their farms. Graduates should have access to jobs. Where there are land disputes, government should intervene, reconcile the parties, and even support mechanised farming where necessary. That is how we can address many of the conflicts in our state.
We are yet to hear anything regarding your running mate. Do you have one, and what informed your choice?
Yes, I have a running mate, but I have not unveiled him yet. At the appropriate time, I will formally introduce my running mate to the public.
