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By Martins Nwanne
Mr. Pascal Okeke left his Orlu Senatorial Zone of Imo State in Nigeria as a teenager, to study at Southern University in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America, in 1987.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Government and Business Administration, he got employed at a New York law firm called ‘Rosenman and Colin’, “a 600-man attorney, one of the largest in the world.
He was later rail-roaded into the American fast lane in real estate business and construction by a friend, and he abandoned going to Law School. “I embraced real estate business and construction because my mind had been there. Today, the rest is history.”
Okeke is the Chairman/CEO of New Era Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO). About three years ago, he came into Nigeria after nearly 30 years’ absence, intending to be a member of Imo State House of Assembly by contesting the 2015 general elections.
Assessing the Imo State government
The government in Imo State is not the worst government ever and is not the worst we have seen. The government of Rochas Okorocha is on course, according to his scale of priorities. We have seen worst governments both in military and civilian dispensations and for that reason, I am not going to condemn this government.
The governor is doing his best but as you know, good things are always ahead. No matter what you do, the best is yet to come. If I were to advise the governor, I would ask him to bring on board, those people with exceptional gifts, even though they are of different party persuasions. Let him reach out to people from across the state. What matters in the end is the development of the state and enhancement of people’s lives, not party or party persuasions.
Disagreeing with government policies
The governor is not open to criticism but criticism is always part of life. If I were the governor, if you criticise me, I will ask you to also offer solutions. You should not criticise me without offering your own brand of solutions. In your house, your kids may not always agree with you, but you do not throw them away or disown them just because they do not share your views.
After the election, whoever emerges as the governor becomes the state governor not party governor. You are the father of all the people in all parts of the state, including those who did not vote for you.
When Governor Rochas Okorocha jumped ship from All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which gave him the platform, to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now APC, the followership did not seem to love him as it did when he first came as APGA governor. People’s love for him waned.
Many people did not forgive him for dumping APGA, which he would have helped Mr. Peter Obi of Anambra State to grow. After all, Bola Tinubu almost single handedly grew Alliance for Democracy (AD) to AC, then ACN and now APC, sprawling through several states in the country.
Comparing Nigeria with US
Politically, Nigeria is trying to practice democracy. We are trying to get to where the United States of America is. It has had more than 200 years of practical democracy, and politically, Nigeria and Nigerians wish to be like the United States.
Capitalism is another thing. The United States is the capital of capitalism and Nigeria is right behind there. Nigerians love making money and spending it. Making money, spending it, obtaining the height you want in life and being the best you can be, are the tenets of capitalism.
Nigeria has potential to be the greatest country on earth. We are blessed with human capital, natural resources, best weather devoid of earthquakes and disaster. Unfortunately, we have not been able to tap into the bowels of the lot Yahweh has blessed us with.
Yes, the government has gone up in arms against corruption. That is the right thing to do. Corruption is a major malaise that has held the country down since independence in 1960. As we go, it is getting bigger. You cannot stop corruption completely, because it is everywhere, even in the United States of America. The difference between Nigeria and United States is that if you are caught in the United States, the relevant institutions would go to any length to deal with you in such a way that others would be deterred.
Here in Nigeria, people get too bold in doing whatever wrong they want to do because the institutions and our system are too weak. Here, people embezzle in billions! It is amazing. I do not have the words to describe how I feel when I hear of such things.
Advice to the President
My advice to the Nigerian President is the advice I would give to all politicians. This nation has talented people in all fields and they are scattered across all the regions of the country. Reach out to different parts of the country and pick the best in all fields, not the second best and not tribesmen or party men, just for the sake of tribe or party.
I do not know of any country with more talented people than Nigeria. You cannot be working with only 20 per cent and throw away 80 per cent of the populace from whom you would have chosen your workforce and your team. What matters is that you have done well for Nigeria. Do you want to be Nigeria’s president or president of only a section of the country?
When I go out there and see the suffering and poverty of our people, it breaks my heart. Nigerians should hold on, the best is yet to come. Things will get better. As for the youths, jobless or engaged, they are our future. My aim is to empower the youths in my locality and possibly, Imo State. I would like to create job opportunities for them. My NGO will train them in skill acquisition.
Government at all levels should train the youths, give them necessary skills and encourage people to invest. The moment government fixes the energy sector, Nigeria’s economy will explode. Give people electricity and the country will buzz with economic activities.
Government should also train people to be able to open businesses for themselves. Do not heap money in your reserve while people are hungry. Invest in people, invest in agriculture, invest in the economy and all agitations would stop. Pursue justice and be guided by the rule of law. Obey all court orders and the country would prosper.
