THERE is this rumour that Dr. Chris Ngige will soon join the governorship race. What is your view on this?
I think our leader, Dr. Chris Ngige, is one of the very few Nigerians that have been blessed politically. He has been a governor, a senator and now a serving Minister of Labour. Less than 50 Nigerians fall into this category that people call GSM, (meaning Governor, Senator and Minister).
Most of these GSMs are men now aspiring to be presidents and vice presidents. Ngige, having rightfully belonged to this group, should rather concentrate on moving higher.
However, if he chooses to contest this Anambra 2017 Governorship Election, he risks failing in the election. He will rather be coming out late. Mind you, some aspirants have been working hard for over a year. That ambition may fail.
With about 14 aspirants on the platform of APC, what is your advice to the party on the best way to manage this rather high number of aspirants?
One thing you must know, our party ,APC, is well organised and have already set up a committee to manage the situation.
The South-East Committee on Anambra 2017 election is made up of eminent personalities, led by the former Executive Governor of Anambra State, Sen. Jim Nwobodo, one of the pioneer GSMs in Nigeria.
Things are looking good because so far, the committee has performed creditably well, screening all the aspirants, keeping issues in proper perspective, guarantying a free and fair contest and most importantly, bringing in the spirit of brotherhood into the contest. APC may end up in a landslide victory in the forthcoming governorship election on 18 November 2017.
To avoid rancour and possibility of fractionalization, some APC leaders are advocating a consensus arrangement to select the candidate of the party. What do you think?
APC in Anambra State is very lucky to have a group of highly qualified and experienced aspirants. I believe that whatever formula that the party adopts, if it is fair, will be acceptable to me and I believe will also be acceptable to other aspirants as well.
Anambra Central Senatorial Zone has had no representation in the senate since the election of Senator Uche Ekwunife was nullified by the Court of Appeal in December 2015. What is going on?
Let me put this issue in its proper perspective in the interest of the public. In the 2015 Central Senatorial Election, the following were the parties and the candidates: Senator Uche Ekwunife for PDP, Chief Victor Umeh for APGA and Dr. Chris Ngige for APC.
The Court of Appeal, being the last court for senatorial elections, nullified Uche Ekwunife’s election and ordered a rerun. INEC’s interpretation of this judgment is that no new person can be accepted to run the race and that only the above-named candidates can contest.
APGA accepted to field same candidate but PDP and APC selected new candidates in the persons of Mr. Peter Obi and Barrister Sharon Ikeazor respectively. INEC disagreed. Both PDP and APC went to court. In one of the cases, a Federal High Court declared Mr. Peter Obi, the candidate of PDP and ordered INEC to put his name on the ballot. INEC appealed against this judgment and that is where we are as of now.
The appeal is before the Court of Appeal and it will come up on the 12 July. I believe that we should allow justice to take its course. Once the appeals are dispersed with, I am sure the rerun election will hold, maybe around the end of this year.
How do you assess the state government of APGA in Anambra State after a little over three years in office?
My honest assessment, using my 10-point criteria on a scale of 1-10, is as follows: Security 7/10; Agriculture 6/10; Road infrastructure 6/10; Health 4/10; Education 4/10; Urban development 4/10; Power 2/10; Youth development 2/10; Erosion control 2/10; Oil and gas 1/10.
How do you assess the APC-led Federal Government after two years in office?
I will also like to use the scale of 1 – 10 in my assessment of key areas Fight against Boko Haram 8/10; Fight against corruption 8/10; Integrity and discipline leadership 8/10; Youth and social welfare 5/10; Development of South East 3/10; Power 2/10.
Were you involved in politics during your school years? Tell us about the politics of your youth?
I have always had interest in politics even at a very young age. I wanted to participate in the student politics during my time at University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. My Head of Department at that time, Prof. J.A. Umeh, banned Estate Management students from participating in student politics. So, I became a perpetual campaign manager for other aspiring students. I think I learned the art of winning from that valuable position. I was in charge of developing strategies that can help other students to win their election, I became pretty good at it.
When I proceeded to the USA for a post baccalaureate programme at Portland State University, I immediately contested election and became the President of African Student Association – that was my very first active participation in elective position. The highlight of my tenure was the invitation to the Nigeria Ambassador to the UN at the time (1990/1991), Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari, who came and spoke to us on the impending US war with Iraq.
What are your chances in the APC primaries? What are your strong and weak points, if any?
I come with a lot of goodwill, having performed exceptionally well as a two-term member of the House of Representatives. I was a foundation member of APC, having been elected to the House of Representatives under the ACN platform in 2011 when most people did not give us a chance. I sponsored ACN/APC financially in at least five major elections which the party won all in my constituency.