Excerpts
Q. Compliments of the season sir. This outgoing year(2025), this present administration in Nigeria led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu clocked two years in office, what is your assessment of the government? Do you think Tinubu-led government has shown leadership capacity towards delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerian citizens?
Thank you for this question. And am sure government officials including the President, the ministers and his spokespersons. All of them are of the consensus that President Tinubu is doing well. That’s their assessments. But internationally and locally, there are two main indices that determines how effective a government is. And we all know that. One is security of lives and properties. And the second is the welfare of the citizens. If I ask Nigerians this question, are there better of now than you were two years ago? The answer will be a resounding no. What that means is that security of lives and property in Nigeria is not guaranteed. You cannot go on road trips Most parts of the country are occupied by bandits. The roads are unsafe. The citizens are unsafe. And the government is saying they are making efforts. Yes, but that’s not good enough. And the worst things for citizens are wallowing in abject poverty. People are hungry. People are desperate. Even morals has gone to the dogs. There is no honor. Is sad sincerely. I would wish the President would do better. Because if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu succeed, we all succeed and Nigeria succeed. Nigeria will no longer be a laughing stock in the international community. The way things are now, I sincerely would tell you that there is still more to be done. There is sadness in the land. There is weeping in the land. There’s bloodshed in every corner of Nigeria. And so, if you put it within that context, there’s still more to be done. And I cannot at this moment sincerely say that the present administration has done well. They could do better. We will know the resources and will know the intelligent people in this government. Am disappointed that for now, this is the best they could do. Is not good enough. Nigerians are yearning for a better government. Nigerians are yearning for relieve from constant struggle to survive. Sincerely, is really bad. There’s no other way you can paint the picture.
Q. In your home state, Imo, where you were speaker of the state house of assembly, the incumbent Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma is currently serving his second term in office, can you evaluates his leadership in imo state?
I am surprised that Governor Hope Uzodinma has performed creditably as he has. I was inside that government. If you want to call me a kitchen cabinet member of former Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration, you might be right. I have been to so many places prior to becoming a Governor when he was a senator, and where he was discussed. And there was this big question of his ability to govern. That was this kind of stopping him. And I think, he is a child of destiny. I think, God is using Governor Hope Uzodinma to reposition imo state. He never wanted to become governor. That’s what a lot of people don’t know. He never wanted to be Governor. He want to return to the Senate. And former Rochas Okorocha want the same Senate seat and governorship. The former Governor won the APC ticket and the party leadership gave Senator Uzodinma its gubernatorial ticket, and he won the governorship election. And people were saying then that he won’t govern well. I’m presently surprised the man has shocked his detractors. I call him ‘Mr Classic’. He does classic things if you go to imo state. I mean, he is not the first person to have talked about building infrastructures. He’s not the first person to have talked about building bridges and the rest in imo state. Some of them were dreams of former Governor Rochas Okorocha. That shows the quality of the work, the density of the work, and the classic nature of the work. So, I give it to Governor Hope Uzodinma, he has done exceedingly well. Look at the major roads in Imo state, from okigwe to Owerri, from Owerri to orlu, mbaise roads. It is not the quantity. It is quality of works that set him apart. So, am impressed. If course, there always room for more. And I would task him to focus more local and urban roads. He has done federal roads, and other key roads in the state . The city roads are looking for attention. The local government roads are yearning for attention. If he can turn the attention within two years, I think, he will be talked about in the same reference and same way De Sam Mbakwe is being spoken. Because he set the pace for the present development in imo state.
Q. There’s is widespread rumours and talks that you are interested to seek for the Imo state governorship seat in 2027 elections in imo and many other states of the Nigeria federation. Is it true? Can you clarify on this much-talked about gubernatorial ambition in many quarters in the state?
Let explain the context. This is my personal opinion. Apart from De Sam Mbakwe, every Governor of imo state till this moment, has been an accident of history. After De Sam Mbakwe, I think Dr Evan Enwerem came in There was also issues. And let’s begin with Dr Achike Udenwa. Achike Udenwa is a consummate administrator. He’s an honorable man But for those who know him, they said he is too wait. And people said that was one of his failures. While he suppose to be assertive.While he suppose to be very authoritative. I like the gentleman. And sometimes, people say politics is not for gentleman. There are times you need to be tough. There are times you need to insist. There are times the need be, when you need to put your feet down to get things done. Then, came Ikedi Ohakim. Ikedi Ohakim did not contest the election to be Governor. It was also an accident. I witnessed all am telling you. I was there. I was working with voice of America. I came to imo state to report the election. It was a big battle then between Ochudo Martins Agbaso of APGA. That was also PDP. Ikedi Ohakim was PPA. That was a party set up by former Abia state Governor, and now senator, Orji Uzor-Kalu. So, Ohakim was not in the picture at all. It was a fierce battle between Agbaso and other parties. Some speculated that Agbaso won. Because of Agbaso won, the powers-that-be don’t want APGA. So, there was confusions. The powers-that-be, I think then President Olusegun Obasanjo said other states have gotten their governors. Imo must have their governor. That since these two parties are fighting, there will be a third party that contested the election. Who is the guy? They said is Ikedi Ohakim. And to straighten the deal, Ikedi Ohakim ‘s brother, Prof Maurice Iwu is from Mbano. So, he was in the INEC. And INEC declared Ikedi Ohakim the Governor. He was there. He wasn’t prepared for governance. It just came to him. He learning on the job. Although it was a rumours, he got into a fight with catholic church. They allege he beat up a priest. He asked his followers or supporters to beat up the priest. It became a religious war by his administration against the catholic church. And that derailed him. Another accident. And because of that a philanthropist, Owelle Rochas Okorocha came. And when Okorocha came, he had no party to become the governor.And then, he spoke and had a deal with Martins Agbaso who was APGA. Then Martins Agbaso gave APGA structures to Rochas Okorocha. And the Catholic Church supported APGA, because they felt Ikedi Ohakim insulted the church and Rochas Okorocha emerge as Governor of imo state. And another accident. You see what I mean. And then Okorocha served for eight years. He wanted to produce a successor. He also wanted to be a senator. Not only he wanted to produce a successor, he also wanted to become a senator. There was political battles in imo state which stretched all the way to Abuja, stretched to INEC and stretched APC when Adams Oshiomhole was the party national chairman. So they were now two congresses that produced parallel executive committee of APC in imo state. And the court decided otherwise in this matter. All these are now history now. To cut the story short, Adams Oshiomhole and powers-that-be gave the APC ticket to Senator Hope Uzodinma.And Senator Uzodinma became governor. So, throughout the history of imo state. This is how the governor emerged through an accident. Now you are talking about me right. I come from Onuimo local government area of imo state. If you are an Igbo person, you will know that Onuimo means the source of imo or the north of imo. And even from the Bible, extra-ordinary things, comes from ordinary places. Like Jerusalem, where the saviour came from. Onuimo is the most backward local government area. And if you recall when President Tinubu wanted to run and he said ’emilunko’ right. That’s my turn. And what I am saying it’s our(Onuimo)turn. And I sincerely believe that the next governor of imo state should come from okigwe zone. And if it should come to okigwe zone, it should be Onuimo which is the least among the local government areas of imo state. Because great things come from the least and unexpected places. Now, I have the experience. I have been where policies are formulated. I have been where policies are been discussed. I have been where are implemented. I have made laws. I have been an administrator as deputy Chief of staff. I have been all over the world. Am seasoned, and I learnt from the table of best minds. And I think, i have what it takes to govern imo state. Governor Hope Uzodinma should not make same mistakes former Governor Rochas Okorocha made in trying to produce his successor. And just to be fair, alot of these gentlemen who said they want to run or those preparing to run for imo governorship seat in 2027, it is not in my place to discuss ideas for them or. I can hold my own anywhere in the world. But if you listen to all of them, non of them don’t want to be like Governor Hope Uzodinma. Just like when Rochas was there, alot of people wanted to be like him. He need somebody who will lead imo state from the foundation he laid. He need somebody who has been all over the world, who have seen what it is in other parts of the world. He need someone who can take imo state to next level. No one running for governorship seat for now has that ability, except me. No one running now has that capacity, except me. No one running now has the humility, expect me. Because I know what the people want. Being the Governor of imo state is not a big deal. We are not reinventing the way. If you go and put people who want to reinvent the way, that means you want to take us backward. What we need is someone who will build up on the foundation already-laid by Governor Hope Uzodinma and raise Imo to the highest level just like it’s being done all over the world. So, that’s what am going to bring to the table. I am not fighting anybody. I am not saying am better than anybody. What am saying if we see face to face we discuss, we have ideas, we have debates. Let the people on their own decide who they want to govern them. And to tell how serious i am in this matter, when i become governor of imo state, I will not have any portraits. There will be no portrait of the Governor to hang in government house or hang in schools and corporate offices. No. What we are going to have is seal of the Governor. I just don’t know why somebody have to hang his or her picture somewhere and people will be looking at you. Are you God? They should do away with pictures of the governor and hang the seal of the governor. There’s not going to be my pictures or portraits anywhere in imo state if I become governor. When I become imo governor, what we are going to have the seal of Governor of Imo state. And again I don’t want to be addressed as “His Excellency”. What have you done to earn that Excellency title? You are His Excellency, are you better than others. It’s just an opportunity and blessings. I’m going to work tirelessly day and night for socio-economic and infrastructural development of imo state. I am not greedy. I am satisfied where I am now. So, imo need someone who is selfless that does not have any barges. That is what I will bring to the table. A new beginning, and build on the solid foundation laid by Governor Uzodinma. That is why I am the best man for the job. And also, my cabinet would be seventy percent women will form my executive cabinet. Because they created the foundation of any society. And when you come to population, women all over the world including Nigeria, they are more populated. They are even more educated. Women are more managers. So, I told you three things. One, i wouldn’t be addressed as His Excellency. Two, i will not have my picture or portraits hang anywhere. Thirdly, seventy percentage cabinet at all levels would be made up women.
Q. What would be other areas of consideration when you become Governor of Imo state?
I’m not going to be doing what other people normally do now. They will have six or seven agendas and then, you will know it is not well-taught out. The key to any development is local government. If all local government areas in imo state have access to good roads. When they have access to Internet, what does that means? It means the cities will be decongested. If you go to most villages in the local government areas, they are all dead and moribund. Everybody and all productive-minds have left there. We have only old people who have served the state, who have served the country in one way or the other. Who are suffering on daily basis. Why is it like this? Because everyone have gone to the cities. Nobody to take care of their welfares. Why are our people going to the city? Possibly due to good roads, electricity, Internet facilities, and rest. Why not bring them down to the villages? Imo state, owerri, the state capital for instance, if there are good roads in the local government areas, at least thirty or forty minutes, wherever you are able to get to work. You don’t need to live in owerri. You can live in the village and go to your workplaces. That will save you the money, save you the headache, and you will also be productive at home. You don’t need to go to Owerri for medical treatment. Why can’t we have good local government hospitals. Not just health centers. We can expand and upgrade the health centers to hospitals in all the local government areas. You don’t need to go to Owerri, Orlu if you are in Onuimo local government area. There should be local government hospitals. Local government will receive sixty percent of my attention. I want the whole local government areas in imo state to be like owerri, the state capital city.
Also, when there are more people in our villages, farming will begin again. I will ensure mechanized system of farming in fostering food sufficiency, food security in imo state in addressing food crisis ravaging some parts of the country. Security will be assured. My priority will be local government area. After Governor Uzodinma is done with Owerri. Because am am told he’s doing city roads. I don’t need to do much there. All I need to do is to maintain what is already there and then, use bulk of the resources and involve the local government. My priority would be local government. They will receive sixty percent attention. I want all local government areas in imo to be like capital city of Owerri. It can be done. There’s nothing wrong with that. Just like in United States and elsewhere, you have cities that are competing. Why can’t it be like that? We don’t want myopic men. We don’t want myopic leadership. We don’t people who are satisfied with the status quo. Change is constant. Imo state need to move forward. Imo need to move higher. It need somebody who is selfless. I don’t have anything to gain. Just to serve our people as I have done all my life. I left United of states America to come and served with Governor Rochas Okorocha. And am still willing to serve. So, by equity, experience, and whatever indices you use to measure it, i think the people of imo state should give okigwe zone the opportunity to govern. If you recall late former Governor Sam Mbakwe is from the zone. I think, there’s something about the zone that whoever that is given opportunity to be Governor, always makes impact. And I think, I can do it. Again, extra-ordinary things comes from ordinary places. Onuimo deserves a shot in producing next Governor of imo state. And I think I am the best man to succeed Governor Uzodinma.
Q. There’s this much-talked about charter of equity in imo state, which some political gladiators said, it was designed to ensure rotation of governorship seat among the three zones of the state. What is your position concerning this issue?
Let me answer your this way. If you recall this is recurring discussions. When Rochas Okorocha was contesting, there was this arguments that former Governor Achike Udenwa was from Orlu. He ran for two terms. Even during the time of Rochas, when incumbent Governor Hope Uzodinma wanted to run, people also complained that Orlu zone produced Achike Udenwa eight years. Rochas Okorocha eight years and now, Hope Uzodinma eight years. Where was that charter of equity then? So, i don’t believe in this charter of equity. I believe in competence. I believe in putting right person in place to do the right job. Now, when you talk about charter of equity, who can guarantee that the next governor will not come from Orlu zone? No one can guarantee that. Governor Uzodinma can say I don’t want it to go Orlu again. But there are sometimes, what you work for will not be exactly the same way. If you can recall Okorocha had the power, the influence to choose his successor. How did that turned out? He did everything lawfully to produce a successor but it didn’t work. In matter of politics, you cannot guarantee this is how is going to be. This is how is going to work. Alot of people are saying charter of equity, what if tomorrow, the ruling party decides to bring an Orlu man and give him the ticket, what will other parts of imo state do? This charter of equity has not been implemented for long. And i doubt if it would be implemented now. There is no reason for Owerri zone to demand governorship seat. Because all government assets are situated in Owerri, making Owerri one of the most Developed cities in Nigeria. They don’t need to demand seat. I can tell you it is the time of Okigwe zone to produce a Governor of imo state. And if it must be Okigwe zone, it should be Onuimo.
Q. Finally Rt Honorable, what would be your word of advices to Nigerians following economic and security crisis presently bedeviling the country?
I advise them to pray fervently for the peace and unity as we entered new year, 2026. We shall surmount myriads of challenges hindering the country’s efforts to attain economic greatness. And again, they should continue to pray and seek God’s guidance and wisdoms upon the nation’s leaders for them to do right things to develop the society, and enhance the welfare of the people. And i hope Nigeria will be great again. I want to also use this medium to wish the people of imo state and indeed, all Nigerians a prosperous new year. I urge them to keep hope alive as we chart way forward for our dear state and country.
