Dr. CHARLES ONUOHA, publisher, two-time commissioner in Imo State and governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in this encounter with Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, talks on his ambition, his grouse with Governor Rochas Okorocha,
Dr. Charles Onuoha
security challenge in the country and why confab decisions should not be sent to the National Assembly, among other issues
Security challenges in the country
It is worrisome, and I can tell you that in line with the thinking of other patriotic Nigerians, I am saddened by the ugly development in our country today. You can see the agitation by Nigerians, as everybody seems to be condemning the activities of Boko Haram. We are almost like a country at war. The spate of bombings in different parts of the country, particularly the North East, is worrisome. One begins to wonder what is going to happen next, as nobody can beat his chest and say he is safe. In some states of the federation, most people no longer move freely. There is terror in the land. The people are angry. I think an urgent action has to be taken by the government, by the people, by our leaders to stop this menace which is gradually spreading and threatening the corporate existence of the country. Boko Haram, as I see it, was not tackled on time. Probably, we gave them a lot of leeway to have degenerated to the level it is today. If we had appropriately nipped it in the bud as a people, it would not have been this monstrous. All the same, I want to appeal to the insurgents that this is our country and no matter the level of discontentment, no matter the level of whatever they are demanding, they should know that we don’t have any other country but Nigeria, and they should be patriotic and lay down their arms. They should embrace dialogue and sort out whatever grievances they have with the system. Again, they should unconditionally release the Chibok girls. They (girls) are not combatant soldiers that they should hold hostage. What they are doing is un-Islamic. They should dialogue with the federal government for amnesty and all that, rather than continue in this dastardly act of wanton destruction of lives and property, which is gradually tearing the country apart.
Speculation that the confab will end up as mere talk shop
Any opportunity that Nigerians have to talk is a welcome idea. If we don’t talk, we will continue to bottle up our sentiments and this endangers the unity of the country. We must sit down and discuss on all the knotty issues that are capable of tearing this country apart, and probably proffer solutions on the way forward. We cannot afford to leave Nigeria the way it is, if we want to be sincere to ourselves.
For me, the confab is the best thing that has happened to this country at this point in time. Anybody who thinks that whatever decision that is taken will be swept under the carpet is making a very big mistake, because it is the leaders of the country that have taken the decision. So whatever they deliberate and agree upon should be extended in form of referendum for the masses to support or reject. I do not subscribe to the idea of sending the confab decision to the National Assembly. It should not be tampered with by anybody, or the National Assembly trying to water it down. It is the leaders of the people that have come together to take the decision; so whatever they come up with must be extended to the people in form of consensus to enable the majority view to prevail. Let Nigerians decide through a referendum or review what the confab delegates have recommended or put together.
2015 and fear of violence
Of course, no doubt, the security situation, as I noted earlier, is worrisome, especially as we are about to enter the election year in 2015. That is why the federal government and security agencies must rise to the challenge. We must do everything possible to ensure we nip this challenge in the bud. But for me, I am confident that the elections will hold because we cannot because of insecurity defer any election. If other countries where there are even war threats can hold their elections, Nigeria can as well hold hers. I do not foresee any problem so big as to stop the 2015 elections. In Nigeria, most times, we think the worst will happen; but when we get there, it will be a walk-over. There will be challenges, no doubt, but we will hold our elections and they will be peaceful. Winners will emerge and will be sworn in.
Involvement in politics and 2015 gameplan
I ventured into the political arena in 2009 when I left banking as the General Manager, and God instructed me to go and rescue my people in Imo State under the then leadership of Governor Ikedi Ohakim. I decided to do it under the Labour Party (LP). We did the best we could at that point and one thing led to another that I had to finally collapse my structure and the entire party structure to that of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) under Rochas Okorocha. As God would have it, we won the election. Of course, I played very prominent role in that election in ensuring that Rochas came to power. The agreement was that he was going to serve one term, after which I would take over. We formed the government. I was two-time commissioner until recently I had to take a bow. No doubt, Rochas has done the best he could for the Imo people and I congratulate him for all his efforts. He should take the path of honour and bow out
after one term. There are other gifted individuals in the state too. Without sounding immodest, I am the messiah that Imo state needs now. Never again will leaders who don’t have the people at heart take up power in the state. My agenda to take the state to the next level will hinge on: economic transformation, human capital development, security, youth employment/empowerment, bursary allowance, health insurance scheme, and free education to Imo students and those outside the state. Governance is no longer meant for businessmen, rather for technocrats. I will ensure that economic development will thrive in Imo because I have the United Nation’s model on what to do. We need to take away the economy from the public sector and ensure it is private-driven. I will grow the Imo economy.
