Governorship aspirant in Rivers State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), TONYE PRINCEWILL, discusses with Assistant Editor (South-South), JOE EZUMA, on his ambition and chances of his party beating the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.
Gunning for Rivers governorship position in 2015
I know my capacity. I know what I stand for. I know where the state needs to go, I know my team and I can take it there. I also know my limitations and the fact that I cannot do it on my own. Whoever will win will need the youths, the women, the business community and the non-indigenes of the state. They would need a united PDP, woo APC members and, very importantly, they would need the elders. Our generation cannot do this without the elders. They may have put us in this place, but they know how to get us out of it.
I have the energy and the passion. Very few people can appeal to the various age groups, the different political actors, the poor, the wealthy, the indigenes and non-indigenes alike. I know I can. I found peace in Buguma. When all others ran, I organised all opposition political parties into one and managed them. I have kept my political family since 2006. I have been a cheerful giver to all shades of the state and I almost succeeded in bringing the former vice president and the president together. I know how to get things done and I have done all these things using my own resources without a political appointment to my name. Can you imagine what I would do if I become a governor?
Fear among Rivers residents on 2015 elections being violent
In 2007, when I ran for governorship on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), I did not use thugs, neither did I have bloody clash with anybody. So why must it be different in 2015?
New agenda for the state
Governor Rotimi Amaechi tried in his own way. I believe he started well. He made an impact. But he lost it along the way. He allowed himself to get distracted. As for me, I will listen a lot more than he did and I will pick my fights a lot better than he has. In fact, I will take slaps and beatings, abuse and reprimands on behalf of Rivers State. I do not see myself as too wise or too knowledgeable not to take advice from my elders, a superior authority, or my peers. I believe that age is no restriction on knowledge, but wisdom comes with time. I will open my doors even wider than he has done and create more opportunity for ideas to shine.
In the area of substance, I will do a lot more to create job opportunities for our children through more improved business climate, better prepared workforce, more secured environment and a further decentralised Rivers State. Finally, I will choose my friends better and remember always that the priority is Rivers. That is one of the reasons I will sell the Rivers private jet immediately I assume office.
Chances in running against formidable opponents in PDP
Pretty good! In 2007, once that election ended and the Supreme Court forced Amaechi on us, I just felt that if I played my cards right, I would be the governor after Amaechi. I had no idea how. I still don’t. But every year after that and every month since, my chances have been getting better and better. It must be divine. I advised Amaechi not to leave PDP, though I knew his leaving would make my path easier. My destiny is clearly not in my hands. I see people like Nyesom Wike (Minister of State for Education) as assets not liabilities. While some look at him as the enemy, I have utmost respect for him. He stood and defended the president when others did nothing and he helped keep the party above ground when APC was determined to bring it down. If you are a member of PDP, you would do well to be grateful to him and Felix Obuah for standing firm in the face of that onslaught. But they are not alone; many people stood behind them as leaders to wage that war. I believe that by being John the Baptist, it is your place to point the way to Jesus Christ. Wike may not be governor in 2015, but he may be heavily involved in who will become. So I prefer not to offend him unless I have no choice.
Intimidated by Wike
Not at all! In 2007, with all the naivety and innocence of a first time politician, I faced a more fearful character in Sergeant Awuse. He had the entire party structure, yet I defeated him in the primaries. We are all human. We are all in PDP. The Minister of State has not decided to run, so we are not yet in a race. He is my party leader, and so if he decides to run as opposed to leading us, we will cross that bridge when we get there. Politics is not for cowards. High risk, high reward. I want to be David, not Goliath. If it is my destiny, I will emerge. If it is not, I will go back to life before politics.
Dislodging APC given the solid political structure of Amaechi
I am not sure where you got that impression from. That is not the view many people in the state and I have. Granted, the state government is now in the hands of APC, and granted that most people who understand the benefits that flow from this are tempted to stay close, loyalty based on benefits has its limits and should not translate to transitional elections. They know how the governor behaved when he didn’t need them. They know he is on his way out and they know PDP is going to produce the next president.
So what you see now is not what you will get later and what you will get later is not APC. Rivers is PDP’s to lose and the leaders are way too smart to make that mistake. So, I don’t think it is an uphill task at all. It is a task and the PDP team and the people of Rivers are up to it. APC will not see anything to celebrate in Rivers come 2015.
Frequent clashes between APC and PDP in Rivers portending danger in 2015
Yes that worries me. Mr. President has said that nobody’s ambition is worth one person’s drop of blood, and we have to re-echo this message down to the grassroots. We have to checkmate this trend fast, before it becomes something else. Making war is easy; making peace is the one that is hard. I maintain that the type of leader we need, going forward, is the one that can bring people together; someone who can work for peace and has the energy to bring consensus.
Doomsday predictions over 2015
It can be avoided by dealing with it before it becomes unmanageable by getting the right hands on deck and allowing wisdom prevail over aggression.
Choosing between Atiku and Jonathan
I can’t see it happening for Atiku Abubakar, but I may be wrong. APC is not that progressive. But if he does emerge, I will support my party and support my president, Goodluck Jonathan. First, because the country needs it; second, because my instinct tells me that the next four years is the prelude to the Nigeria we all can be proud of. Nigeria needs fixing and President Jonathan is doing it. He needs to be supported to do that job. I do not see former Vice President Atiku Abubakar with the baggage of APC doing a better job than Jonathan in PDP. That was why I asked him not to leave; that was why I pleaded with him to support Mr. President. But it was all in vain. The experience of Atiku, combined with the grace of Jonathan, would have taken our country far. But I think there was too much mistrust, and I guess where we are today has justified it.
Expectations on confab report
I don’t have much to say about that. My consolation is that a dialogue had taken place; there were no walk-outs, and positions are shifting. How it will end is beyond me, but Nigeria will be fixed; if not now, later. Of that you can be sure.