From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Ezifula Opara is a former banker and manufacturer. His party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA), has chosen him to represent his people of Ngor Okpala at the Imo State House of Assembly in the 2023 general elections.
In this interview with Sunday Sun, he bared his mind on how the state assembly would win the hearts of the people of the state, as well as his view about the jumbo salary paid to public office holders in the country. Excerpts:
The Imo State House of Assembly where you’re aspiring to be part of has been highly criticised in recent times, do you think we can witness a new face in the coming election?
There is a whole lot of things, like people used to ask me ‘are you a politician’, I normally give an instance with a blind person, you and I know that it’s the desire of the blind man to walk in the right part, but by circumstances of his disability, he will take the wrong path, there is no sane person that does not want to do the right thing, but often times you see them doing the wrong thing, it’s either they are not abreast of what they’re doing or they don’t know how to go about it. For me, I don’t want to blame anybody, so I think basically those we have now don’t know how to go about it in the process of representing their constituency, so those coming in now would have a lot to do, it has never been goo, but I believe the crop of young people who have their tickets to represent their people would absolutely make a difference in the house, all is about leaving a lasting legacy .
So, what legacy do you want to leave behind?
Some our political leaders would be in office for four years and they live on Federal Allocation, yet no good governance enjoyed by their people. This is what we should condemn and correct by sponsoring of meaningful bills that will allow for businesses to grow in the state. The youths would be employed ,if you get this right, it has a way of reducing unemployment. The legislature is all about law making, so this time, it should be all about proactive and articulate representation ,sponsoring of bills and motions that are in line with the social and economic needs of the people. This should be the priority of the next generation house of assembly, above all, if they are unity they can utilise the natural agricultural opportunities we have to increase the food base in our dear state, let’s improve our local content. Besides all of these, you know that the legislature is about law making,I will bring transparent and articulate representation to my local government which will also have impact at the state level ,I will sponsor bills and motion that are in line with the economic and social needs of the people ,I will try my best possible to unify all stakeholders in my constituency. You know people have different interests and views, which sometimes scuttle the progress of that place, but I will make sure that they are on one page ,importantly,I will also be the chief marketing officer of my constituency ,the major occupation of my people is agriculture and we have vast land, so we can convert this to good use ,we would market the local government, new technologies would be used to enhance our agricultural productivity and I believe I have the capacity to attract investors ,the youths would also be engaged in meaningful ventures and that will reduce crime ,entire constituency allowance and emoluments would be managed by a constituency committee ,with all these that I have mentioned,our local content will improve. I have challenged people going to the house, it’s not all about what you have invested and you want to reap ,it’s all about social services,social support ,they should drastically reduce their take home ,let’s know those coming with genuine public interest ,there should be something like constituency management committee ,it should be grouped into four to take care of the money coming in monthly from the federal allocation ,this will take care of important needs of the people of the constituency.
Talking about the present lawmakers in the Imo State House of Assembly, how do you assess them?
You can’t assess them , they don’t exist,what have they done in the past ,what were there area of specialty before coming to the house ,we had expected that if they were specialists in their fields,the impact would be felt in their legislative duties in the house, but it’s unfortunate they don’t have it. They’re what the people call them,puppets, rubber stamp,it’s a pity,but that will soon be a thing of the past when quality people are injected into the system. A new state Assembly is possible in Imo ,a true independent legislature,that was why I said who were some of them before coming to the house,if they were really contented with themselves they wouldn’t have to wait until they’re muscled around before they take certain stands.
Still on the 9th Imo Assembly, a lot have been said about them,mostly they accused them of going on incessant recesses, some say they are the worst ,do you agree with their assessment?
Of course, yes, they are bundle of nothing ,even people on the street know this ,in fact, they are not existing,the legislature is supposed to check the excesses of the executive, if you do the right thing and the governor knows you’re doing the right thing ,he would be very careful in his dealings,he won’t wake up and just be doing any how ,but because we have bundle of nothing,the governor can decide to do whatever he likes,after all with one million or five hundred thousand naira,they are gotten cheaply.
What’s your reaction on the frequent change of Speaker of the State House of Assembly?
The 9th Imo State Assembly is an assemblage of toddlers in all spheres of life, but Imo people will not fall this victim the second time.
But you’re going to join them if you win,is it not going to be the same with you, are you not going to be a rubber stamp as well?
Most of them are not going to come back,there are stale laws,what I mean by stale laws is that ,they have not been updated with current realities,if someone has to go on recess of one month ,two months or more, when there are bundle of things to deal with,you wouldn’t be surprised if you can still find some fine as 50 kobo as penalty if somebody does something wrong ,is it in line with the current reality, no,if I come in ,I will challenge the house ,to get more engaged with the realities of time .
How do you now reconcile their pay for serving their people every month, do you think it commensurate with their efforts?
I do not see any reason a federal lawmaker should pocket about N7.5 million for doing virtually nothing, it’s crazy when school teachers have not been paid,the pensioners crying for their right ,they say they’re paying for diesel which is financed by the office,what is the jumbo salary for ,they say running cost,that you flew from Abuja to Owerri,is that a running cost? When you come back to the state,what are you doing with about N3.8 million as running cost ,that money should strictly be for anything that has to do with constituency ,in form of development, empowerment, it should not be personalised ,a house member should only be entitled to sitting allowances ,you’re a house member for four years and you’ve been given a Prado jeep and when your leaving office you go with a Prado jeep, in four years it has not exhausted its durability but once another person comes in ,he would be given a new one, at whose cost? What will you now give to somebody who has served the state for four years.
Are you referring to the pensioners?
Of course, they’re been neglected,if you ask me before any legislature or executive should be paid, be it the governor of a state, the senior citizens should receive their rights,they should not be begging for it,it’s their withdrawal right,they earned it by working for 35 years,so they should not be made to go through pain before they enjoy the fruit of their labour. In that regard I think also that the junior workers should be paid first before those in high levels. This is why I advocated that the Fedral Government reviews this jumbo salaries to public office holders ,the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFC), National Assembly and other relevant agencies of government should help to review downwards the salaries, emoluments and entitlements of political and public office holders to reflect the current realities and feelings of average Nigerians. The government has been resorting to local and foreign borrowings to fund budget deficits and capital projects; the gap between the salaries, emoluments and entitlements of political office holders and civil servants is unfair, and must be discouraged immediately to further strengthen the peaceful coexistence,we all patronize the same markets and are also subjected to the same economic conditions as such there is no justification for the jumbo salaries, emoluments and entitlements of public office holders.
It has not been well with your party APGA for some time, litigations here and there,do you think that the party can make any impact in the 2023 general election?
Yes, why not, APGA is still very formidable, you can listen to the testimonies in Anambra State ,it’s not even all about the party,it’s just like somebody wearing a mask and if it is unveiled, you will see the true person behind it,but what APGA has done is choosing people with sound minds to represent it.
How do you see the insecurity situation in Imo ,are you not worried?
It’s quite worrisome,it still boils down to the basic things not provided,there’s nobody that wants to die ,obviously you see that people don’t have hope anymore ,nothing inspires people again in Imo State and because they do not have jobs it compounds it ,what inspires now is how to carry ballot boxes during election and other violence associated with it created by the politicians and it keeps on spreading like a vicious cycle, but if the potential of the youths is harnessed, this will reduce insecurity in the state ,if we generate genuine employment, insecurity will surely be reduced.