…Vows to stamp out corruption in state
By Agatha Emeadi
Dr Sam Amadi is the director, Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts and the former chairman of National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
He is a Harvard-trained policy strategist, law and governance expert, as well as a vocal voice in his home state Imo politics.
In this interview with Sunday Sun, he X-rayed the need for Imo to be great again.
Amadi, who contested for Imo APGA ticket in 2019, threw light on the Imo Harmony Project (IHP), vowing not to support a corrupt and incompetent candidate even when he or she emerges from Owerri zone. Excerpt:
Based on your Easter message, which I read, the takeaway was ‘Let Imo be great again.’ Assuming you become the governor of Imo State, how will you make Imo to be great again?
My Easter message is a soft reminder to Imo people that their lot is not good; that they can and should do something about their situation and that everything about their situation turns on the quality of leadership. To make Imo great again means that Imo used to be great and is no longer so. For example, Imo State used to be most people’s state in the country. It is no longer so. We know that there is a general problem of insecurity arising from a general failure of leadership in Nigeria, Imo suffers an aggravated form of insecurity arising from some peculiar circumstances. Making Imo great again means restoring Imo to a state of security as in the past where tourism can return, where small and medium enterprises can flourish and Imo citizens, especially those from the troubled communities in Orlu can return to normal community life. This requires a different kind of leadership approach. It requires passionate and sincere focus on the welfare of the state and a determination to take all necessary actions to uproot criminality and impunity. Another dimension of the new leadership required for this restoration is rebuilding trust between government and the citizens, especially the youths. We have hurt our youths. We have abandoned Imo youths to the enemy. We need a deep reconciliation with the youths across the community to begin a new chapter of transformative community relations. Of course, unemployment and rising poverty are dimensions of the current failure. Imo has the highest youth unemployment. This is an enabler for insecurity. We need a massive community based economic growth strategy that unlocks opportunities for employment for Imo youths.
What do you think is the agenda of Imo Harmoney Project?
The Imo Harmony Project is focused on promoting the emergence of an Imo governor of Owerri extraction. The project believes that Imo needs to align with the rest of the Southeast and the country by entrenching equity through zoning of political offices. Imo State is the state without zoning of the office of governor among its geopolitical zone. The IHP argues that equity would help with stability and development in the state. I believe in equity and also in merit. They are not contradictory. The primary thing about democracy is the right of the people to choose their leaders. Nothing should interfere with this fundamental principle of democracy. So, equitable structures must guarantee the right of the people to choose their leaders through free and fair elections. But access to political power can be restructured in plural society or where there is imbalance to be more equitable by ensuring transition between different sections of society to engender a sense of inclusion. I think this is the agenda of the Charter of Equity which aims that engendering a sense of justice and fairness in Imo politics. But let me be clear. The most troubling aspects of governance in Imo are corruption and incompetence. Electing a truly honest and consistent leader in Imo State is more important to me than zoning. We need to make a clean break from the corrupt politicians. The era of 419 in politics in Imo should end. We need real and radical reconstruction. This is more important than zoning the governorship. Owerri zone deserves the governorship based on equity. But we need the best and brightest from Owerri zone; not the same corrupt and incompetent politicians. If a corrupt and incompetent candidate emerges from Owerri zone, I will not support such a candidate. We should get over this cycle of error and failure. By the way, Imo is too small for any problem of inequity. Orlu, Owerri and Okigwe are just one economic zone that in four years I will build so much prosperity and development that no one will bother whether the governor is from Owerri or Orlu or Okigiwe. That is the kind of leadership. Rapid and sustained economic development, open and transparent leadership backed by community-based participation and democratic freedoms. Who cares where the governor comes from if we have such leadership. Although I belong to IHP and the Chair of the strategy committee of Imo Harmony Project, getting such honest, competent and transformative leadership in Imo State is my priority. In 1979, my late uncle, Dr Nnanna Ukaegbu had a great vision of creating an African economic miracle, starting in Imo State. He could not get elected. That vision must come to pass. I am focused on that vision. The turn to one party state in Nigeria will fail. Yes, the Nigerian political class seems like listless and spineless. But I believe that the internal contradictions in the APC will lead to a significant breakup and usher a new state of pluralism that may be fake and unorganic, but help to pluralize democratic contestation in Nigeria. Imo will be worse. The ruling party is not capable of being cohesive. It has not performed creditably and the centripetal forces are back again. Imo is too complex for imposition. Wait for the complexity to unfold. My mission in 2027 is to make sure Imo people have a real choice, not a regurgitation. We have to say bye-bye to the past.
You come from Ngor-Okpala, where the customary court situated at its headquarters, Umuneke, does not sit again due to insecurity. They now sit in Owerri, the Imo State capital. What is your take on this situation?
The Ngor Okpala situation is a very sad one. I am pained that such a wonderful people are now under siege. Ngor Okpala is under attack by assorted criminals, including the dreaded herdsmen. This is time to reverse the course. Unfortunately, leadership is the problem. I saw the crisis coming and issued a lot of public warnings. I went further to propose an Ngor Okpala security summit through the ‘Ike Ngor Okpala’ and ‘Obiri Ngor Okpala’ platforms to lead to strategic solutions. But unfortunately lack of leadership and courage amongst Ngor Okpala elite made the summit almost a joke. It is so sad that no local political leader apart from the traditional rulers and the local government chairwoman and a few patriots attended the summit. The big politicians, including those who want to be governor or legislators never bothered to attend. This is sad. I was hugely impressed by Ngor Okpala in Diaspora, especially those in the US who showed great commitment and have started taking action. Let me encourage our people in the Diaspora to step up and save Ngor Okpala from becoming another Orsu in Orlu or Onuimo in Okigwe. Let us not wait for government. It will fail us. Let us take actions at community and Ngor Okpala levels to save our people. Do not trust our politicians. They are so afraid and selfish that they may not do much. Let Ngor Okpala professionals in Diaspora come together and invest time and resources to make Ngor Okpala secure. That is what I am working on. I thank Okwe Youths who have taken actions.
What about some policies in your state, Imo, for over a year now, Ministry of Lands seems not to be registering lands under the Land Use Act, land owners find it difficult to register them?
The fact that there is no registration of lands in Imo is worrisome. A freeze on land registration may affect business transactions which will lead to economic stagnation. This is not good for business. Many business leaders are worried about this. It reflects negatively on the stock of housing in the state. You can see a boom in real estate in Enugu State. You are not seeing such in Imo State. This is because of the level of uncertainty in the business environment in Imo arising from lack of executive action in this regard.
What about the Labour Party where it seems they have two tiers. What do you know about that? I also saw your message on the incessant attack on Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi. Throw more light on that?
Labour Party is in what seems like an intractable crisis. Hopefully, it will be resolved by INEC taking the right action. We wait for INEC to take the right action and recognise the appointment of an interim leadership by the remaining members of NEC of the party. It is sad that all the opposition parties are engulfed by different crises. It is a statement to the vacuous nature of Nigerian politics where neither values nor ideology, but old greed and ambition regulate party politics. It is sad. It does not seem like we are evolving towards a virtuous path in politics. On the issue of incessant and sometimes needless attacks on Mr Peter Obi, my view is that it reflects his current standing as the leading and most determined opposition to the ruling government and the fact that the government is overwhelmed by the crisis it has created and looking for a distraction and scapegoat. Of course, Mr Obi is not perfect and is not above criticism. But some of the attacks against him are some form of mild hate speech and bare propaganda. But this is politics. It is okay. My point in my tweet is that he is so far the only politician who is astutely addressing the challenges of governance in Nigeria and this may be the reason he is constantly at the receiving end of political fireworks.
What about the appointments of judges in Imo State, I understood that the Number 4 in the hierarchy was appointed as active CJ, though NJC had come out strongly to say that the appointment is not approved, though the governor too has agreed to reverse it, why is it that government would have a full grip on an arm of government like that judiciary which is supposed to be the conscience of the people?
On the appointment of judges in Imo State I am happy that the National Judicial Council, NJC, reversed the action of the state because it was unlawful. We should ensure we always follow due process in appointment of judges. The independence of the judiciary requires such scrupulous attention to procedure and legality. But all said and done, the non-independence of the judiciary is the fault of judges and their administration. There is enough constitutional authorization for judges to be independent and impartial, but corruption and lack of courage and quality education have crippled the judiciary. The problem starts with mode and quality of judicial appointments. We now see that it is wives and daughters and sons of governors and legislators and, of course, senior judges who get appointed to judicial positions. So, we start compromising merit and justice from even how we recruit judges. I have been crying against the practice of allowing judges to attend parties organised for them by serving governors. If a governor who may be sued in your court can organise a banquet to celebrate your elevation to a higher judicial office how do you expect to be independent and for the public to trust in our independence? The worst is for the FCT minister or the president to gratuitously provide judges with choice houses as accommodation. It is horrible. It is a bribe. I understand that President Tinubu did well for judges while serving as governor of Lagos State. But many interpret his support for judges as form of bribe that led to the capture of the judiciary that has continued till today. The objective of financial independence for the judiciary is to ensure it does not come under inducement or control of the executive.
What is your take on the local government where developmental projects have ceased to exist unlike in the past when such was at its peak?
Local governance has collapsed in Nigeria. That is why we have so much insecurity because you have many ungoverned spaces in Nigeria because we do not have real and accountable government in local government councils in Nigeria. The Supreme Court compounded the crisis of local governance by its recent decision. Our local government system is incoherent and needs deep rethink. I am committed to local economic development and prosperity. That is why in 2018 while running for APGA governorship primary I developed the Community Action Plan for Prosperity (CAPP) with a focus on cottage industry development. This is what East Asia did. This was what happened in England in the period of industrial revolution. I have a good example from my late uncle, late Julius Okere who built good economic infrastructure for Ngor Okpala. CAPP is based on the vision of a developmental state gleaned from the doctrines and practices of my two mentors, M. I. Okpara and the late Dr Nnanna Ukegbu. If Nnanna had become governor or succeeded in his vision of political alliance of true progressives committed to rapid economic development Nigeria, we would have taken the shape that East Asia took.
Talk about the agenda of Imo Harmony Project?
I believe in the vision of Imo Harmony Project on rotation, but it should be subject to the search for a transformational governor for Imo in 2027. That is my priority.
What is your relationship with the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma?
My relationship with Governor Hope Uzodimma is very good. I knew him long before anyone else. He knows me as well. He knows I am a man of truth and character. We accept our differences in profile and vision. He believes in my capabilities. He appointed me a member of Imo Elders Council. That is a show of goodwill I believe.