Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State is one of the incumbent governors who picked a Senatorial ticket for 2015 elections and also succeeded in overseeing a peaceful party primaries. He fielded questions from journalists where he outlined his plan if elected to the red chambers. While dismissing opposition in Abia State as paper tigers that lack grassroots appeal, he admitted that the Presidential election will be keenly contested but assured that Goodluck Jonathan being a better candidate who has performed well, would win the election. Ahamefula Ogbu was there; Excerpts
What is your impression of the primaries in Abia given the discordant tones coming from the exercise in most states?
The primaries were free and fair. Reports in the media show that there are not much criticisms or agitations from Abia State. In terms of the guber primaries, the people who contested are men of timber and caliber, men who have credibility and money. It was a very fair contest and they all accepted the result and it was very transparent; so none of them has petitioned or agitated because they knew it was transparent.
The primaries were free and fair. Reports in the media show that there are not much criticisms or agitations from Abia State. In terms of the guber primaries, the people who contested are men of timber and caliber, men who have credibility and money. It was a very fair contest and they all accepted the result and it was very transparent; so none of them has petitioned or agitated because they knew it was transparent.
The same thing goes for the other primaries that were held, that of national assembly had the same level of transparency and that of House of Assembly the same. Summarily, I will say that the primaries in my state were very very fair and the officials that were sent from the national headquarters knew why they were sent there and that was to come and conduct a good primaries that will bring out the best candidates from our state that will win election. So, it was a good election and I congratulate those who came and conducted the elections, I congratulate those who won and congratulate those who lost for having the spirit of sportsmanship and for embracing the successful ones.
Considering that there is so much rancour in other states, what was the magic behind not having such situation in Abia?
If you look at the antecedents of Abia, you will know the secret. Abia was polarised in the past; Abia was in turmoil and it was the situation under which the primaries were conducted, you would have seen a lot of blood-letting, a lot of rancour, a lot of petitions, many bad things. Cast your mind back when PDP had its primary elections in 2007 when Chief Onyema Ugochukwu was the contender and Chief Okezie Orji and other people were the contenders; if you cast your mind back, it was terrible that time, that primary was terrible, they couldn’t end in one day.
If you look at the antecedents of Abia, you will know the secret. Abia was polarised in the past; Abia was in turmoil and it was the situation under which the primaries were conducted, you would have seen a lot of blood-letting, a lot of rancour, a lot of petitions, many bad things. Cast your mind back when PDP had its primary elections in 2007 when Chief Onyema Ugochukwu was the contender and Chief Okezie Orji and other people were the contenders; if you cast your mind back, it was terrible that time, that primary was terrible, they couldn’t end in one day.
It was cancelled and they extended to the next day but that was the situation we found ourselves until I came on board and with the spirit of God, we were able to reconcile everybody. Every person that had any agitation or misgiving was settled and it became one big family and that family is PDP.
This happened in 2011, that was when the miracle happened when we brought together everyone that had misgivings about the government and the party. They realised that we have genuine government that aimed at inclusive government, that cared for the welfare and opinion of everybody. They now joined hands with the government and it is that peace that has extended to the government. It was like a family discussion. Because we are united, because we have one purpose, because we want the best to come for Abia; the best candidate that will carry out a transformation that this government has started. We want a government that will be inclusive, that will bring every person on board, a government that will not destroy the unity that has been built , that was what transformed into this election in Abia State.
Are you convinced that the PDP candidate for 2015 elections in Abia can take the state to the next level?
Of course, he will. He is not a foreigner. He has been with us, he lived with us and had been working for Abia State government. He is a son of the soil, he is not in the Diaspora, he is part and parcel of the system, the people know him and he knows the people. The primary election that brought him up is the voice of the people. He was not a lone contestant, you saw the people that contested with him and that he emerged shows that he is the preferred person. So I am sure and confident that he will do very well, he will take Abia to the next level. He will give his best and his best will be appreciated by Abia people. Okezie Ikpeazu is not an imposition; he was elected by the majority votes of the people.
Of course, he will. He is not a foreigner. He has been with us, he lived with us and had been working for Abia State government. He is a son of the soil, he is not in the Diaspora, he is part and parcel of the system, the people know him and he knows the people. The primary election that brought him up is the voice of the people. He was not a lone contestant, you saw the people that contested with him and that he emerged shows that he is the preferred person. So I am sure and confident that he will do very well, he will take Abia to the next level. He will give his best and his best will be appreciated by Abia people. Okezie Ikpeazu is not an imposition; he was elected by the majority votes of the people.
What package are you taking to the Senate in 2015?
A lot of ideas. Senate is primarily to make good laws, we are there to at least make sure that good laws are in place; those that need to be amended will be amended. Good laws will be made, we are not ending there, we are going there also to make sure that our constituents at home are protected in the Senate by all the paraphernalia of an office of a Senator, not only in making laws but by taking your people along. A senator can attract projects through connections; that we will do because as a member of the executive, we are used to siting projects, giving the people and that will not go away from us. As a senator, I will not leave that realm at all, it is inborn in me. So when I go to the Senate, apart from making laws which is the primary duty of a legislator, I will make sure that I attract projects for my people and I will make sure that the government in power, that is the government of Goodluck Jonathan will be stabilised.
A lot of ideas. Senate is primarily to make good laws, we are there to at least make sure that good laws are in place; those that need to be amended will be amended. Good laws will be made, we are not ending there, we are going there also to make sure that our constituents at home are protected in the Senate by all the paraphernalia of an office of a Senator, not only in making laws but by taking your people along. A senator can attract projects through connections; that we will do because as a member of the executive, we are used to siting projects, giving the people and that will not go away from us. As a senator, I will not leave that realm at all, it is inborn in me. So when I go to the Senate, apart from making laws which is the primary duty of a legislator, I will make sure that I attract projects for my people and I will make sure that the government in power, that is the government of Goodluck Jonathan will be stabilised.
How are you estimating the capacity of the opposition in Abia State, mainly APC and APGA in the main elections?
We have been saying it that there is no opposition in Abia State, but all the same, if they are rearing their heads, we are ready for them, very ready for them. We are ready because we are on ground and we are working very hard.
We have been saying it that there is no opposition in Abia State, but all the same, if they are rearing their heads, we are ready for them, very ready for them. We are ready because we are on ground and we are working very hard.
I assure you that PDP has come to stay in Abia for some time; don’t mind all the noise the opposition is making, we are containing them and the people know. I don’t want to let out our secret, but let me tell you, we are grassroots oriented and that is our strength. If you look at APC and APGA and look at their aspirants, there are Diaspora people. They are not in touch with the grassroots. If I take that man of APGA, that you are a bank manager, connecting with big men does not translate into connecting with the grassroots.
Those big men you know do not vote on the day of election, they don’t even come out. Some of them don’t even have voters cards but the real people who vote and will protect their votes, lead the voters and make sure that they vote and their votes are counted are those with us; and these are people who follow us because we protect their interests. Those people what have they done in Abia? Already they have confusion among themselves.
The APGA man has lost his identity; PDP decided in all wisdom to move the Abia ticket to Abia South, first of all we said Ukwa Ngwa and Abia South is mainly made up of Ukwa Ngwa people and because we said Ukwa Ngwa people, their guber candidate who is known to come from Arochukwu came up and claimed he is from Ngwa. Now when PDP said it is for Abia South which excluded him, he didn’t heed the clarion call and said this is not for me but he insisted. A person who can deny his identity because of power can you trust him? Because he wants power, he denied the whole of Arochukwu kingdom and said he is now an Ngwa man; but Ngwa people know their own, they know those who are their children. We are waiting for him to choose his deputy; let us see who will make his deputy, whether he will go to Abia north to take his deputy, he is from Abia north; if he goes to Abia central which is there now or he will go to Ngwa since he is claiming to be Ngwa man so it will be Ngwa Ngwa; so let us see what he is going to do.
Do you see a keen contest between Jonathan and Buhari in the 2015 polls?
Of course, there will be keen contest but Jonathan will win. The contest will be keen, everybody knows that but the best candidate will win and Jonathan is the best candidate.
What gives you the impression he will win when APC has 16 governors?
Forget about controlling of 16 governors, it is not the governors that vote, it is the people that will vote; that is what has given me the confidence that he will win. Jonathan has done well in all the sectors. You have been here since he came to power, there is no sector that he has not made an impressive landmark. These are things people see and they know and feel. If you compare him with past leaders, he has done very well and that is a selling point, in terms of performance, in terms of who he is, he is a humble man.
Forget about controlling of 16 governors, it is not the governors that vote, it is the people that will vote; that is what has given me the confidence that he will win. Jonathan has done well in all the sectors. You have been here since he came to power, there is no sector that he has not made an impressive landmark. These are things people see and they know and feel. If you compare him with past leaders, he has done very well and that is a selling point, in terms of performance, in terms of who he is, he is a humble man.
What is the South East Governors Forum doing about the crisis in Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra PDP few months before the election?
It is being handled; before the elections, we will be able to sort out those things. This is what normally happens at this time. Is there any political party without crises? No. There is crisis in APC, there is crisis in APGA and all the other parties like the PDP but it is the capacity to handle it which we have.
It is being handled; before the elections, we will be able to sort out those things. This is what normally happens at this time. Is there any political party without crises? No. There is crisis in APC, there is crisis in APGA and all the other parties like the PDP but it is the capacity to handle it which we have.
When you were asked how you intended to produce your successor, you said you would not have a hand in it or impose someone, but that the people will speak; now the people have spoken, assuming you were giving him a handing over note, what areas would you ask him to concentrate on in order to solidify the foundation you laid and build on it?
Many areas. First, he has to maintain the peace and unity that we have now because it is very essential.
Then security, you know we did a lot in security. All these people that come to the state, go to Aba and talk nonsense, if there was no security would they come there? They come and say road road road, did they fly and come to Aba? They still use our roads that we repaired and they say we have not repaired. Peace, security and turning around the economy of Abia, not only the economy of Aba because Aba is part of a larger community known as Abia State, so he has to turn around the economy of Abia State and provide the necessary things that are needed in life; that is the essence of governance, provide for all the sectors, touch all the sectors, education, health.
Where we have made achievements, let him excel, where we have not made achievements let him build up on that; that is it, that is what I will hand over to him and wish him the best. To do well for Abia is what I wish him.
Source: Thisdaylive
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