From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
Abia political stakeholder and former chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Promise Elechi, says he and his over 130,000 followers in Abia South, have confidence that Governor Alex Otti will succeed in his efforts to reposition and move the state forward. Elechi, a retired AGIP Oil (SAIPEM) executive, who served as Dr Peter Odili’s presidential campaign director in 2007, in this interview, in his Owo-Asa home, Ukwa West Council Area, said that foreign experts have begun showing interest to partner the administration in setting up businesses. For him, Otti is actually inspiring hope in South East.
Let’s look at the Dr Alex Otti-led administration which has been in office for barely eight months, would you say it has done well?
I left the political scene after the last general elections, having succeeded in seeing that the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Dr Otti, won. You know that I used to be a strong stakeholder in the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC). But, when things started going haywire with the Abia chapter going into the elections with many factions, I had to resign with my supporters in the whole of Aba zone (Abia South), comprising Aba North, Aba South, Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West Council Areas. We were approached by the Otti campaign team and we moved over to LP and that move boosted the presence of the state government in Ukwa (Asa and Ndoki) areas more than what was obtained in the past. Though seven or eight months is too short a period to evaluate an administration that has an initial four years tenure, I would say that we are pleased so far, with what the Otti government is doing, the direction it is following and the boldness being attached to it. We may not be seeing these successes physically spread out, but they are coming in, getting positioned. On our part, you know Ukwa is rich in oil resources. With the launching of the industrial park in Owaza community and the governor’s promises that will unfold many oil-related businesses including the modular refinery and provide jobs for our youths, we believe that there’s a change in government’s attitude towards our people, though many will argue that nothing had happened as follow up to the fanfare that heralded the ceremony at the launching.
This brings in the question of how you would contribute to the realization of the project, since you are an expert in consulting and bringing in foreign partners into the sector in view of your training and work schedule in AGIP Oil/SAIPEM International in its relationship with the Nigerian government and oil producing communities of the Niger Delta region?
As experts in fishing out genuine investors and recommending them to local partners here in Nigeria, we are still very active in the sector in Port Harcourt, Rivers and Bayelsa areas. We have also made proposals to the Abia Government on some interested investors in oil and gas, waste management/biofuel technology and ventures in agriculture which, if accepted and entered into, will bring in great wealth and change the socioeconomic aesthetics of the state. We have foreign investors from Canada, South Korea, among others, ready with funds trying to partner the state, and have made proposals to the appropriate state government agencies including the governor’s office in Umuahia. These issues are being discussed, as at today and if any of them works out, they will come in. Some of those wanting to invest have been to the state before and visited the proposed site for their projects of interests. So, our activities in trying to bring these industrial establishments home to our people didn’t start now. It’s only that past governments in the state were not willing to do the needful. For instance, some years back, we brought in foreign partners that wanted to have a fishing industry with canning facilities and platform for exporting the products through a seaport to have been established in Umuorie Community within Obehie which is just a few nautical miles into the Atlantic Ocean. We expect government will be willing this time to partner with the investors and give them the confidence to come in and be part of our economic development. It will create jobs for thousands of our youths and from there check criminal activities caused by idleness.
You are the deputy national chairman of the Aba State Creation Movement. One of the reasons for the agitation for the new state, according to the group, is to bring development into Aba and Ukwa (Asa and Ndoki) areas. The Abia State Oil Producing Communities Development Commission (ASOPADEC), which works to bring development into the oil producing areas, has failed to deliver despite the fact that its management has been specifically drawn from Ukwa areas. What would you say is the problem?
You see, many of the programmes being handled by the government be it federal or state, are actually meant to alleviate people’s sufferings. However, those at the implementation stages and the corridors through which mapped out funds are actually released for the projects, most times, divert such funds thereby making projects lined up for execution to linger for long and even get abandoned. In the past, I am not sure that ASOPADEC, was getting the budgeted 13 percent of oil revenues received from federally allocated funds to the states. The leadership of the Commission, to us in the rural communities, were seen as mere servants of the governor who got appointed on political patronage instead of being chosen or recommended by the stakeholder communities that ought to benefit from the funds. Going further, the current administration in the state has appointed a pastor, we can trust and believe in, in view of his spiritual calling, but it is still the governor or anyone he appointed that will release approved funds for projects in the communities. The people are supposed to make their choices and projects preference known and monitor their execution processes but this is not happening. In Ukwa, we have suffered in the hands of those using us to make up numbers, who quickly and easily distance themselves from us as soon as their set goals are realized. They make noise, claim that we are one when seeking for recognition but leave us to our fate thereafter. Asa and Ndoki clans get so near to Aba and Umuahia areas during electioneering but as soon as the winners and losers are announced, we become seen as more of Port Harcourt people. This should change. Let every part of the state benefit from the common table in appointments, patronage, siting of development projects among other benefits.
We are tired of continuing to be the goose that lays the golden egg. If Aba State must be created, Asa and Ndoki clans will want to be a certified corporate partner, not population make up areas. This is our stand and henceforth, it will guide our position whether in Abia, Aba or any other state or entity we find ourselves. This is the reason that led to our coming out en masse to support the Alex Otti candidature and ensured that he won. Other parties’ representatives, especially those that have falsely deceived us into believing they will help develop our land, shied away when we needed them. We strongly believe that the present administration has a plan for Ukwa land and will religiously implement it. This is our hope.
There must be a comprehensive responsibility for the people in order to attract the government, what should it be in view of the hardships currently being faced especially at the rural communities?
Before the arrival of the new administration, many people had lost hope of anything good coming out of Abia. But what we are seeing at the moment is beginning to revive those hopes that were lost. Abia is today in the lead in the region. Though, one may see only a few completed projects, especially roads here or there mostly in Aba, we believe time is coming when it will be construction, rehabilitation everywhere in all parts of the state. So, while we wait for that time when the budget for this year, 2024, will start being implemented, let us join hands with the government in realizing its dreams. They are for our good. Let’s pay our taxes and other approved levies, maintain peace in our neighbourhood in order to attract needed environment for investors. People should not give room for criminal activities like banditry, drug usage, youth restiveness arising from engaging in cult activities. I believe we will be happy if we work in that line.