By Dickson Okafor
Nze Gowin Okafor, National President, Okigwe Professionals Vanguard (OPV) has said the emergence of Emeka Nduka as Speaker of Imo State House Assembly will unite the legislative arm of government in the state, noting that Nduka is a courageous team player.
The CEO, Igor Maritime Services Ltd admonished the lawmakers to cooperate with the new Speaker and Governor Hope Uzodimma to end insecurity in the state.
In this interview, he urged the Speaker to work in harmony with his colleagues in order for them to meet the expectations of their constituents and also work as a team to pass people-oriented bills that would enable the governor to fulfill his campaign promises to the people of the state.
What is your take on the emergence of Emeka Nduka as the new Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly following the resignation of his predecessor, Kennedy Ibe?
It came as a surprise to me and the entire members of Okigwe Professionals Vanguard. But to politicians, it is work in progress, hence it did not come to them as a surprise because it has been the case since the assumption of this present assembly in Imo State. To me, all I’m asking for is the support of the legislators to Governor Hope Uzodimma to enable him discharge his duties effectively. We have had several changes in topmost positions in Imo State Assembly including that of the speaker. The newly sworn-in- Speaker, Emeka Nduka represents Ehime Mbano state constituency and that is where I hail from. However, I congratulate him for assuming Speakership position and I urged him to be focused and open to his colleagues. Also, I thank Governor Hope Uzodinma for giving Nduka a higher responsibility which shows that he rewards hard work. So, to us in Umuoma Nzerem and the entire people of Nzerem/Ikpem electoral ward, Nduka’s ascension to the position of the Speaker is a welcome development. I’m glad because there was no fracas between him and the former speaker. Also, may I use this medium to thank his colleagues for their support that made it possible for Nduka to emerge Speaker. Meanwhile, it is important to note that a good parliamentarian acts well at every moment and he performs a good action for all eternity. So, there are compelling needs of the people which Nduka must use his position to address. The attributes required from a good leader is that those with goals tend to succeed because they are focused and know where they are going. I thank God because Nduka posses these gifts.
What is your expectation from an assembly led by Nduka considering the state of affairs not only in South-East, but in Imo State in particular especially in terms of insecurity?
Being the number three citizen in a state like Imo, much is expected from him as Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly and he must prepare his mind for the task ahead to support the governor to deliver on campaign promises. So, he must bear this in mind. He must know that expectations from the people are high and like you rightly mentioned, insecurity is paramount. Yes, insecurity remains the greatest challenge faced by South-East governors and leaders in the state Houses of Assembly which they must overcome for the interest of our people. So, my expectation from the Speaker is to work in harmony with his colleagues irrespective of political affiliation. He should be a team player and by so doing, his colleagues will cooperate with him to pass people-oriented bills that will help the governor to discharge his duties promptly. Again, this is not the period when the state legislators will concentrate in trying to scheme out one another through unnecessary objections during debate. They should put their interests in any bill that will improve the standard of living of the people and ensure they are passed into law. All hands must be on deck to turnout bills that transform the lives of the people in the state. Hunger does not know political party or structure because once you are hungry and there is food available, you must be angry. These are some of the things that discourage youths and sometimes lead them into crime. When you say insecurity, who are those behind insecurity? Some youths are the ones being used to cause havoc in the country. So, the Speaker and his colleagues should join hands with Governor Uzodimma to end insecurity in the state. Again, the lawmakers should work as a team to be able to deliver the dividends of democracy to their constituents. Because it’s only when there is security, there will be peace, unity and development.
Ehime Mbano LGA has produced a lot of strong political heavyweights both in private and public sphere, how have they impacted the area positively?
Yes, you are right. The former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwe is also from the area and his impact was and is still being felt by my people. Meanwhile, in case you don’t know, Nzerem is the food basket of Imo State, that is why People from the entire South-East come to our major markets like Oriagu to buy farm produce of all types. And we have been appealing to both state and Federal Government to come and explore the natural resources in Nzerem for the economic wellbeing of the people, but governments both state and federal are yet to heed our appeal. So, Ehime Mbano LGA is richly blessed by Almighty God and our prominent sons and daughters have indeed, impacted our lives positively.
Your association, Okigwe Professionals Vanguard has been at the forefront for good governance in Imo State, what efforts are you people making to instill unity in the state ahead of 2023 general election?
Thank you, this is a vital question. Okigwe Professionals Vanguard (OPV) is an international organization and we are reaching out to our brothers and sisters not only in Imo State but across the Niger so that we can elect competent and credible leaders in 2023. OPV is a pressure group that has spread to the nooks and cranny of the South-East. Our aim is to search out Igbo prominent sons and daughters anywhere in the world and encourage them to join hands to reform, unite and stabilize the Igbo politically.
It is a call for the rebirth and regeneration of Igbo towards emancipation from internal and external intimidation and harassment. The group is an umbrella of strategists, intellectuals, researchers, technocrats, academia, activists and businessmen and women. It is the think tank of the South-East because we must get it right this time to stop further ridicule of the Igbo. Enough is enough. So, we are starting from the ancient city, Okigwe.
Do you see the next President coming from the South-East next year?
Like I said, we must put ourselves together and march forward in one accord; that is the only way we can win the minds of the people from the other geo political zones to vote for a South-easterner as President of Nigeria. As I speak with you, we have not got to this point and it will be out of place for us to think that only Igbo can make an Igbo man President of Nigeria without adequate support from the other zones. I pray we come to the understanding of this simple political mechanism. Remember, before now, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) promised to give Igbo their Presidential ticket in 2023 in line with rotation of Presidency. APC was a bit fair for deciding to shift power to the South but PDP wants power to continue in the North after President Muhammadu Buhari has completed his tenure. So, OPV is a unifying force of Igbo politicians irrespective of political party affiliation so that we can speak with one voice because 2023 Presidency will either make or mar the Igbo politically.
You can hear some Igbo saying that the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter did not carry them along so they won’t support him, what is your take?
To become President of Nigeria is not an individual battle; it is a collective venture and that is what Igbo lack. Initially, it was Sen. Rochas Okorocha who was very loud to succeed President Buhari but at the last minute, those he trusted ganged up against him. This “Only me” syndrome phrase by Igbo politicians is affecting us negatively. And as it is, the Igbo youth have adopted the syndrome in the case of Peter Obi as all you read in social media is insult of those who raise vital points on why we should lure people from other geo political zones to vote Peter Obi. Instead of wooing people from the other zones, some of our youths go ahead insulting them even if they did not buy the idea. Okorocha tried it by believing that except him, nobody else can become Nigeria’s President in 2023 and that is a major problem. I think we should have learnt from what happened during the last Presidential election when the Yoruba entered into alliance with the North and that was the reason President Buhari won the election twice in 2015 and 2019 and they will reciprocate the gesture to the Southwest next year. Instead, to learn from my political analogy, they will begin to insult me. I’m not saying Peter Obi is not competent and capable to rule Nigeria; he is more than qualified going by his record but it’s just that we have not got into a political alliance with any of the five geo-political zones.