CHARLES ODEDO, the only member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Anambra State in the House of Representatives who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in this encounter with Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, speaks on his defection, the national conference and security challenge, among other issues.
Defection from APC
CHARLES ODEDOI resigned from the APC because I have a deep feeling that my ambition to return to the House of Representatives may not be realised in that party. I have fallen out of favour with Senator Chris Ngige who gave me the opportunity to return to the House of Representatives in this seventh Assembly. I am no longer one of his favourites. My ambition to return to the House of Representatives is very popular among my Idemili people, but a few elite want to frustrate the will of the people. Only Idemili people can decide my fate. I am their choice.
Problem with Ngige
I really do not know what my offence was, but I noticed that a clique of sycophants around Senator Ngige were no longer happy with me, as they began to constantly criticise all my actions. They employ lies, threats and blackmail to advance their agenda.
Impact of resignation on Ngige’s political machine
I do not think my exit will affect his political career in 2015. Mind you, before my entry into politics in 2005, Ngige was already a governor. Remember also that in 2011, he was elected a senator against Dora Akunyili who was supported by even the then Governor Peter Obi. I benefitted a lot from Ngige’s goodwill and the good works he did in Anambra Central, especially in Idemili North and South.
My experience with the PDP in 2007 was a bitter one because after winning the primary election, my name was removed. I fought all the way to the Supreme Court before entering the House of Representatives in July 2008. I lost about one year and one month. I was already a member of the House of Representatives before I joined Ngige in ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) in 2011. I was to be denied the ticket of the PDP, that was why I left for the ACN where I won the election. Now that I perceive that I may not get the ticket of APC, I have to make a move in order not to allow those who want to frustrate the will of the people by trying to deny me opportunity to serve my people have their way.
I came into the seventh Assembly on the platform of ACN (now defunct) and not the APC. ACN merged with some other parties to become the APC. So, I did not come to the House on the platform of APC. I really do not believe in the APC, as I see it as a gang-up against the president. I am returning to the PDP, my original party.
Return to PDP
PDP is broad-based. With the effective leadership of Mr. President and the enthronement of internal democracy by the national chairman, I am confident that the PDP will win the 2015 general elections.
My defection has to do with the fact that APC in the South East revolves around some personalities. It is more or less a one-man show; it is almost a dictatorship and not a democracy.
State of insecurity in the country
This country is under serious threat because when ordinary hardworking citizens are attacked and killed, when innocent school children are attacked and killed, when places of worship like churches and mosques are attacked at will, you will agree with me that we are in serious trouble. At the beginning of the seventh Assembly, while contributing on the debate about the legislative agenda of the seventh Assembly, I made crucial contribution; I advised that this country should focus on some critical areas because of the state of insecurity.
I raised the issue of food security; I suggested that emphasis should be given to agriculture for mass production of food to reduce hunger. Agriculture also creates employment opportunities. The insurgency is fueled by hunger and unemployment.
I have harped on the issue of employment and security. Unemployment is the biggest problem confronting this country today. Government should focus on many areas of development that will create job. For example, agriculture and local content policies encourage local production. We should undertake mass housing projects and probably create an agency that will look at every sector of the economy. Importation of virtually everything, including things we can produce, is not good for the economy.
Also, it is crazy for us in this country to set aside up to 70 per ecnt of our budget every year for recurrent expenditure, while in most cases, the budget for capital expenditure is less than 30 per cent. Even the capital is not implemented in full; sometimes the implementation of the capital is as low as 25 per cent. Steps must be taken to create jobs for our people.
Security of lives and property and welfare of our citizen are the primary reasons of government. The security agencies should be reorganised, especially the intelligence departments, for a proactive approach to securing lives of our citizens. The security agencies should be well-funded and exposed to foreign training, so that their capacity and efficiency will improve.
There is need for compulsory free education up to SS 3 level because development requires education. The government, as a matter of policy, should encourage integration and discourage division along ethnic and religious lines.
Potentials of national conference
The people in the conference have the capacity to deliver good result to Nigerians. However, the national conference has not been given adequate time to do its job. For more effective and thorough assignment, the time for this conference should not be less than six months.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the rescue?
I think that benefit of the doubt must be given to INEC. They (INEC officials) seem to have started well. We at the National Assembly have appropriated necessary funds needed by INEC. The media should educate the general public on the need for a peaceful conduct during the election. The government should provide a safe environment for the elections. Most importantly, INEC must ensure a transparent and credible election. This can lessen tension and bring peace to our land.