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I’ll make difference –Okagbue, APGA House of Reps aspirantBY DORIS OBINNA
Hon Onochie Okagbue was the transition Chairman of Dunukofia Local Government Area in Anambra State for about two years.
In this interview, he takes us on a journey into the political history of Dunukofia and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and his reasons for seeking to represent Aniocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
What, in your opinion, qualifies you better than others to represent Aniocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives?
As you know, I have served the party and my state as the transition chairman for Dunukofia Local Government Area. It is the home local government of the great Anambrarian, Chief Arthur Eze and so many other powerful men and women. I served the local government meritoriously for nearly two years. The records of my achievements in the local government attests to my dedication, not just to the service of my people but also to our dear party APGA. I must equally tell you that I have been a loyal party member from 2002 till date, I have used my personal resources to build APGA in Dunukofia. It was my dedication to the ideals of our late leader, Ezigbo Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and loyalty to the party as an Igbo man who believes absolutely in the visions of the party as the political surname for all Igbo that brought me so far.
I stand tall to say that no other aspirant for this position, either in my party or others, share the love and passion that I have for our people. I am a grassroots man and have continually paid my dues. I am not a political opportunist that runs around political parties searching for any that will accommodate me for selfish interest. Since I joined the party in 2002, the first assignment I was given was the vice chairman of the committee for the second term reelection of Governor Peter Obi. Unfortunately, APGA had no presence in my local government and did not do very well in that election. Within the period I took over as the transition chairman, I threw all my weight and efforts towards establishing APGA in my local government. In the last governorship election, I am proud to say that APGA achieved more than 25 per cent of the general votes. Since then, we have been waxing strong, as the structures I established are still in place. I thank my grassroots team and I hope to extend the same feat in the other two local governments of Anocha and Njikoka. Already, my people are in the field working, I am on the ground and have proved that I know what is required to win elections. I am not a novice in this game.
The seat you are vying for is presently occupied by Hon. Uche Ekwunife. How do you think you will win since her influence in the area is acknowledged?
As you know, she has crossed-carpet to PDP. I know how hard APGA worked to enable her get there only for her to abandon the party. If all of us will be defecting, running in and out of APGA, as it suits us, it will make a serious mockery of the ideals of our leader and the masses that so much believe in these ideals will be left disillusioned. APGA and party politics should be founded on loyalty, passion, dedication and service, that is the only way we can help the state government and the party stabilise. I have all these qualities and the capacity to win the seat from anybody whatsoever.
Are you not feeling threatened by the weight of PDP and APC in Anambra?
APC is non-existent in Anambra, as I talk to you. Recently, almost all the state executives of the party and more than 300 foot soldiers from all the local governments in the state joined APGA. Our people are more political savvy today than before. APC is not a party that has anything to offer the Igbo man. I do not think that they have regard for us. If they do, why would an APC government of Lagos State deport Igbo from their state? It is an utter disregard and breach of the fundamental human rights and freedom to live in any part of a nation. We are supposed to be equal citizens. It is equally an act of provocation, embarrassment and dirty slap on the face of the Igbo. No one will do such to any other ethnic group in this country and get away with it. So many of our brothers and sisters have been killed or maimed by Boko Haram in the North, as the Igbo man is the most travelled in this country due to our enterprising nature. The APC leadership never out-rightly condemned the activities of this terror group until recently that they have taken the terror act into their own homes, killing Muslims equally.
Let me remind you that the present senator representing my people of Anambra Central, as an extract of APC, never condemned this wicked act. Senator Chris Ngige defended the position of APC government of Lagos State against the injustice meted on us as a people. It is sad that Senator Ngige does not know where party politics and loyalty starts and stops. Being a loyal member of APGA does not mean I will not stand up against any unjust act being perpetrated against my people, either from within or outside. Senator Ngige failed Igbo woefully and I’m sure this election will confirm my position. It is important now we all understand the reasons the governor of my dear state, Chief Willie Obiano, announced to the world, during the Join Jonathan Journey rally, that our National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, will be given an automatic ticket as our senatorial candidate; it was overwhelmingly applauded and endorsed by almost all the organs of the party, including non-political organisations. This decision reached by the governor was purely on merit and due recognition of the services Chief Umeh has continuously rendered to Igbo people.
Some uninformed people talk rubbish about him and I laugh. None of these individuals have the capacity to do what Umeh has done. He has bent over so many sides, compromised a lot of fundamental grounds to make sure that APGA lives, in making sure that the ideals and visions of our leader do not just disappear. The truth is that without the resilience, visions and consistency of Chief Umeh, I will not be here granting this interview, APGA would have been dead and buried. In my own view, Umeh is overly qualified to run for the Senate as to give the good people of Anambra Central quality, dynamic and accountable representation, he will equally be the catalyst that will ginger the Igbo caucus in the National Assembly to do better than the present for our common goals as a people.
I am assuring my leader that as I have been consistent in the past, I am not ready to change now and that with him in the upper house and my humble self and other great minds in the lower chambers, Anambra Central will be better for it. My track records are there.
How do you intend to contain the might of a political giant like Chief Arthur Eze, bearing in mind that he has huge resources and belongs to the national party, the PDP?
I am sure you know that Chief Eze has been the major political influence in Dunukofia. He is a progressive and practical person, in terms of his support to candidates. He stands for the better interest of the masses, though he is of the PDP. He is an icon that cannot be sacked by any political party for whatever reason.. Therefore, he’s free of political bias. He gives his support to any candidate he feels shall protect the interest of the poor masses. I have worked with him when I was transition chairman of the local government. We have a good relationship. I am optimistic he will support my candidacy, knowing that I will do better than others. I have too much respect for him and I guess it is the same with him. He is our father and a fair man. He knows I am tested and proven. Moreover, we share common interest, in terms of making sure President Goodluck Jonathan is re-elected. The President is, of course, the candidate of our party, APGA. We shall work hard to deliver the President.
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