GOVERNOR ACHIKE UDENWA’S PRESIDENTIAL DREAM  TOTTERS ?AS CHIEF ARTHUR NZERIBE CHALLENGES

By Emeka Oraetoka <limpidresources@yahoo.co.uk> Oct 5, 2006

 

 

Prolific writer, Edwin Madunagu, is one person that appears to have researched into details, the import of every comment and actions of Arthur Nzeribe, either on national issues or on individuals generally. The correctness of Madunagu’s projection of the implication of Nzeribe’s comments, actions, and views on our body polity, as could be seen from his articles on two occasions, with these captions: I Love Francis Arthur Nzeribe and Through The Eyes Of Sonny Okogwu; would have served as guides to Governor Achike Udenwa, in knowing whom to square up with in political contest.

 

In his article published in the Guardian of August 3, 2006, Edwin Madunagu, while comparing Chief Nzeribe with Sonny Okogwu, has this to say: --“their outspokenness is often an embarrassment to other Establishment politicians. But the polity as a whole benefits. This type of “outspokenness” which must also be critically assessed- often saves us from chasing shadows”---.

 

From the look of events, the once chubby political relationship between chief Nzeribe and Achike Udenwa, has given way to fierce political battle that appears to have consigned Udenwa and his ambition to a cul-de-sac. The motion moved by Senator Nzeribe for the probe of local government funds in Imo State, for which Senate directed EFCC to swing into action, appeared to have proved that Imo State under Udenwa may be neck deep in corruption. The report by the New Sentinel Newspaper, that local government chairmen walked out on the revenue allocation committee, when these illegal committee sought to deduct huge some of money from the Chairmen allocations, which they (revenue committee) habitually claim were meant for construction of 4 kilometer road in each and every local government area in Imo State. According to the local government chairmen, it would be suicidal for them to keep kowtowing to illegality after their horrible experience in the hand of EFCC.

 

A juxtaposition of Madunagu’s view on Chief Nzeribe’s outspokenness with Nzeribe’s motion for the probe of Local Government Finances in Imo State, on one hand, and the defiant position of LGA chairmen after paying homage to EFCC as reported by New Sentinel Newspaper of first week of September 2006, one can clearly see that Imo State as a whole has benefited, as illegal deductions may have stopped.

 

The interview Chief Nzeribe granted to National Mirror Newspaper, published on Thursday, September 21, 2006; on what could be termed Governor Achike Udenwa pretentious presidential dream, with the captioned: GOV. UDENWA IS A JOKER – NZERIBE, appears to have taken the sail out of Udenwa’s ambition. Nzeribe described Udenwa’s ambition as laughable. On the issue of 3^rd term in the ill-fated constitution amendment bill, Nzeribe submitted that 3^rd term is the easiest way to answering National questions and regretted the current confusion the failed constitution amendment has brought to the polity.

 

This is how the interview went.

 

National Mirror: Distinguished Senator can you give us an assessment of INEC in terms of its preparedness for the 2007, election, Nigerians are worried over the credibility of the commission in conducting free and fair elections?

 

Nzeribe: Honestly, Nigerians have no reason to panic. As a senator and an elder statesman, I have every conviction that INEC is prepared and capable to conducting free, fair and hitch-free election. Prof. Maurice Iwu is a man of credibility and empirical integrity. On his honour, he would not like to dent his records. I was privileged to be at the last INEC forum, the discussions, level of preparedness and assurances he made, he gave me the conviction that INEC is ready to conduct a credible election come 2007.

 

National Mirror: You are a chieftain of the PDP, based on the wrangling, witch hunting and fictionalization that has polarized the party, some members of the party are still insisting on the harmonization of the party structure before the party’s forth coming primaries and convention. Is the party hierarchy thinking along that line?

 

Nzeribe:  Well, I am not the party spokesperson but I am a member of the National Executive Committee of the party and I attended the last Executive Committee meeting, just held recently. The President, the national chairman and the secretary general, in their speeches said it point blank that there is no issue of harmonization. That, whoever is thinking of it, is just having a figment of an unrealistic imagination. That the executives that were elected at the ward, local government, state and national levels at the last congresses and convention are legally and democratically acceptable by the party and the status quo must remain until their tenures elapsed. The truth is that any person who is hoping that there will be changes in the party executives or before 2007 is merely daydreaming.

 

National Mirror: Another important issue is that in the PDP there are avalanche of aspirants jostling to be the president of this great country comes May 2007 and among the credible candidates positioning themselves for the presidency is the governor of your state, Chief Achike Udenwa. How do you see his chances?

 

Nzeribe: I hope you are not tempting me to say it is a big joke. Udenwa knows he is only masquerading to be the president of Amaifeke Towns Union. Where is his credibility? Where is his clout? It is an infantile activity. Obviously, there is no reason now to consider it as a serious affair, at least for now.

 

National Mirror: Why do you think so?

 

Nzeribe: As I said earlier, it looks like an infantile activity, for now. Do you think the presidency of this country is an all comers affair?  When he is serious, we would know and we may then give him our maximum support. For now? It is very funny.

 

National Mirror: Are you contesting the 2007 polls, if yes in what position and under which platform?

 

Nzeribe: by the Grace of God and with the magnanimity of the people as well as the party indulgence, I will be applying to the party for nomination. Whenever the party calls for nomination, I will submit myself to the party to be considered fit, to be returned to the Senate. I will seek the renewal of my mandate under the platform of the PDP. As we all know, the party has the last say as to who represents the people as their flag bearer.

 

National Mirror: How would you assess your years in the Senate?

 

Nzeribe: In one word, very profitable to my constituency, very rewarding to my state and patriotically vibrant and democratically meaningful to Nigerians. As an elder statesman, I have been passionately committed to the practice and adoption of democratic ethos and principles, my colleagues in Senate can attest to this.

 

They always call me Nzeribe for the masses, Nzeribe for the people, due to my stands on issues that affect Nigerians. My people are persuading me to go back to the senate due to the dividends of democracy I attracted to them. In fairness to them, they are considering my going back to the Senate as a payback and to improve their well being more.

 

National Mirror: As the Nigerian longest serving senator, how would you assess the leadership of the senate by Senator Ken Nnamani as well as the inputs of the senate in the fourth Republic in the overall development of the nation? Are they mass oriented? Critics say the Senate is Obasanjo’s rubber stamp. How true is this?

 

Nzeribe: The gospel truth is that Nigerians now have a vibrant, dedicated and patriotic senate under the vibrant leadership of Chief Ken Nnamani. To talk about the catalogue of achievements of the current senate, it will take a whole day to highlight but in one simple word, we have done very well. It has been rewarding and profitable to Nigerians.

 

National Mirror: How do you see the rift between President Obasanjo and his vice, Atiku Abubakar. What is the Senate thinking about the criminal accusations leveled against Atiku?

 

Nzeribe: It is a constitutional issue that borders on morality and integrity.

 

National Mirror: Why were you in the Vanguard of third term agenda, despite its unpopularity?

 

 

National Mirror: As an elder statesman and an astute politician are you not worried on the rate of politically masterminded assassinations prevalent in the past two months? How can this be addressed?

 

Nzeribe: Honestly, I am worried. I am even frightened. I feel so bad. Why must somebody condescend so low as to see politics as a do or die affair? Politics is a game of sacrifice and service oriented. I am worried by the security lapses in this country. People are being murdered like chicken. People are killed as if they are goats or cow and the police have no clue over these murders. It is unfortunate. Our security system is meaningless since the police and the armed forces cannot checkmate these senseless brutal murders and wanton destruction of properties over negligible provocative issues. However, I wish the recent security mechanism adopted by the Federal Government will positively affect the security standard of the nation.

 

National Mirror: You are known to have moved a motion four months ago calling on the Senate to probe the accounts of the local government administration in Nigeria. With particular focus on Imo, your home state with the activities of the economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the state, do you see your motion as justifiable?