The Abia State Governor- elect , Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu , in an interview with PUNCH responds to raging controversies following his victory at the last governorship election in Abia State and hints on how he intends to run the state
What is your impression about the just- concluded elections?
I am going to respond from three flanks. I think that the Independent National Electoral Commission did a good job generally though there is room for improvement. The introduction of the card reader technology was a good innovation but just like every new idea, we saw a lot of shortcomings and the challenges that came with it. The second is on the turnout of voters in Abia. I think that 35 per cent turnout was not too encouraging.
The third leg of my response is about the actors. For the first time, we saw the introduction of an entirely new dimension of political violence in Abia State which had not been there before. Some contestants were very desperate and stretched the political contest beyond what it should be. For us, we think the underlining issue should be service. But if somebody is asked to wait or is rejected outright, should it call for bitterness or threatening of life? But thank God we won the election.
Some people have criticised the role of security operatives during the polls in Abia, do you also toe that line?
You know they had their limits, areas and spheres of coverage. Management of election and the role of security operatives were subjects of heated debate before the elections. Surprisingly, in some parts of Abia State, we saw the military clearly overstepping their bounds and taking over the role of other security agencies to the point of even harassing voters and conniving with some people to undermine the election process. But apart from that, generally speaking, I will say the security agencies tried.
Are you alleging that the military worked for the opposition?
I will cite specific instances. If you came to Aba North and South during the National Assembly elections, you would have seen situations where the military connived with our opponents to get INEC adhoc staff and their agents in a room, and then fenced off every other person including transition committee chairmen. The military also connived with our opponents and allowed units’ results to be collated at local government headquarters up till 8am the following day. It wouldn’t have been possible to achieve that level of manipulation without the connivance of the military. Clearly, we saw the military connive with our opponents in the LGAS.
Which of your opponents are you referring to now?
Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
But the same Otti alleged that you stole his mandate.
Where did he keep it before it was stolen? You must have established possession first before you talk of it being stolen because you cannot claim that somebody stole what you do not have. There is no place for arrogance when you are talking about the will of the people. If you are a Christian, you have to tone down the level of your arrogance. There are certain things money cannot buy and one of such is political mandate. There is a limit to which somebody’s wealth can take him. But enough of that! I think that he was the person who attempted to steal our mandate because after the April 11, 2015 election, it was clear that I was leading with 83,000 votes. He battled (hard) and we were to go for a re- run. It was clear who was leading and I also had 25 per cent in more than two-thirds of the LGAs in the state, which was the condition stated by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for me to be declared winner. However, I still beat him in the re-run.
But we hear you’re jittery about Otti’s resolve to go to the tribunal and reclaim his ‘stolen mandate.’
In the first place, going to the tribunal is the way of bitter losers. Anyway, it is his right to do so. But luckily, all of us will be at the tribunal too because his own tribunal will not sit in the dark while we will be asleep.
You’re afraid that the outcome of the tribunal would favour him, aren’t you?
I don’t see how he is likely going to upturn the popular will of the people except that in Nigeria, if you have money, you can buy anything, including human beings. Otherwise, it’s not possible. This mandate in my custody is a sacred mandate. It is the will of the people of Abia. It is not a do or die affair. You would have noticed who was desperate in the run-up to the election between the two of us. I didn’t have to change my local government of origin because I wanted to run for an election. I didn’t have to jump from one political party to another because I wanted to run for an election. Now that the battle has gone to the tribunal, I understand that he has moved to the All Progressives Congress, in an attempt to beg the party to use the Presidential fiat to influence those who are going to sit at the tribunal. But it is most unfortunate because I know that the in- coming President (Gen. Muhammadu Buhari {retd.}) is a man of principle and he is going to be the president of members of all the political parties in Nigeria. So if he (Buhari) sees a man of principle, he will know and if he sees a man that is desperate, he will also know. There were people who campaigned against him before the election only to love him now because he has succeeded. If eventually every person becomes an APC member, it will be very unexciting.
There was violence in some parts of Abia State during the election period and some people have blamed your party for it.
We went to campaign at Uturu, some of his (Otti’s) people came and smashed three of our buses but we never fought back. Who attacked Hon. Darlynton Nwokocha at Isiala Ngwa? Who called Black Axe cultists to slap women with knives at Isiala Ngwa South? Who brought in the Agureri dimension into the politics of Abia State? But the same people will go on top of the tree and continue to shout. All along, I was praying fervently that things wouldn’t take a turn for the worst because we had never seen that level of desperation in the history of Abia State politics.
APGA has accused you of being involved in the issue of caskets being paraded in Aba at the eve of the April 25, 2015 election re-run which was allegedly aimed at scaring voters into voting for the PDP. Are you going to deny that?
As far as I was concerned, we didn’t have any need to carry caskets. Remember we were clearly leading before the re- run. So if there were some people who were desperate and wanted to catch up with us in any way, it would have to be our opponents. For us, our strategy was to maintain peace, law and order because while it could have benefited them to rock the boat, our strategy was to ensure that the status quo was maintained so we could be declared winner.
Sometime ago, you alleged that Otti induced the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Selina Oko, with N300m and that she’s his aunt. The REC has since denied it, called you a liar and challenged you to come up with a proof. When will you make your evidence public?
That she is related to Otti is not in doubt. She knows that Otti’s mother comes from Ebonyi and she is from Ebonyi. The truth is clear and we know how powerful the extended family system can be in Nigeria. As for the bribery allegation, I wouldn’t know why she behaved the way she did apart from the fact that she could have been induced. We also know the people who said that they have all the money to buy all kinds of things. I understand that some people can be bought. I understand that if somebody is not behaving properly, he or she could have been induced. It is a matter for another day. Our conscience will judge us. For me, I am grateful that I’ve been given the opportunity to serve as a governor, and I’m expected to speak like an in-coming governor.
You seem confident now but how confident will you be if the tribunal nullifies the results of the three controversial LGAs of Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa North and orders a fresh poll?
If that happens, the results will be higher in my favour than what we got before. But that is not likely to happen. By the way, who tagged them as controversial LGAs?
The members of the public.
I don’t think so. It was Alex Otti that did that. He expected the umpire to tie the hands of his opponent while his own hands were free. Why is Arochukwu not controversial? Why didn’t he say that Aba North and South were controversial? The fact of the matter is that I come from Ukwa-Ngwa, and we have never been governor since the creation of the world. Are you saying it is not proper for us to stand up and respond by voting massively to achieve that which God has decided to bring our way this time? Besides that, politics is different from any other vocation. You must strategise and plan properly.
My opponent did not take cognisance of the fact that Obingwa has 98,000 registered voters. He did not take cognisance of the fact that Obingwa, since 1999 has consistently produced the highest or second to the highest number of votes in the state. He did not also remember that before now, Obingwa has produced three deputy governors because every governorship candidate that wants to win will pick his deputy from Obingwa to get our massive support. Again, my opponent has not told the world that he had no candidate for the House of Assembly seat in Obingwa and I even warned him that he was taking a big risk. He hasn’t told the world that he chose his deputy from his own federal constituency. He was not sensitive to the three zones in the state. How can you come from Arochukwu and pick your deputy from Ohafia?
Why are you forcing Arochukwu on Otti when he has told the world he hails from Isiala Ngwa South?
The matter is not about what he says but what is the truth. There are documents and an ample evidence to prove it. He even wrote to INEC to say ‘Though I registered in Arochukwu, I now want to vote in Isiala Ngwa South.’ In Ngwa land, what is the meaning of Otti? There is no name like that in Ngwa. He knows he is from Arochukwu. His ward in Arochukwu is Atani. He’s not from Isiala Ngwa. He only came to Isiala Ngwa and built a house there because he thought there would be a blanket zoning for the Ngwa people. He didn’t know that we were going to consider senatorial districts.
The storming of the INEC collation centre by Governor Theodore Orji and some PDP stalwarts mid-way into the collation of governorship results has been generating dusts in the polity. How would you justify such an intrusion?
It is not an intrusion because Orji was not only the governor but also a senatorial candidate, and INEC is a public place. People are angry because in Igbo land, we say, ‘why would an elder be in the house and the goat will give birth with rope tied around its neck?’ There was a grand design to do what was not proper. When you cause an unusual problem, you are calling for unusual solutions. When somebody stood up in INEC and tried to cancel results that were generated from the units and declared at the wards and LGAs, that was abnormal. Even the INEC Chairman (Prof. Attahiru Jega) has no right to cancel those results. So if somebody attempted to do it, don’t you know it would attract all kinds of people? Even the spirits were there on that day. Our forefathers were all there.
People say Gov. Theodore Orji was very instrumental to your emergence and so fear that you will be his stooge as governor.
I want to assure Abians that there is no one example of a sitting governor that is under the influence of his predecessor. Everybody is aware that Bola Tinubu supported Tunde Fashola. We are also aware that Governor Peter Obi supported Willie Obiano and if in the midst of my struggle that I got the endorsement of the incumbent governor among others, I think I will say thank you to him for supporting me but that is where it stops. No person will attempt to dictate to a sitting governor. It is a very difficult thing to do. And I pray that nobody attempts it here and I am not that kind of candidate. And for those who say it, I regard them as enemies of progress because their fears are unfounded. Their fears have no historical support and cannot be substantiated. Because I don’t see anything around me that suggests the fact that I will allow another person’s signature on the document that I have drafted.
So what you are going to see in Abia State in the days ahead will be my stamp and my authority, and I will take full responsibility for my actions and inactions. His administration will end on May 29 and I will take over. When history will be written, I won’t be allowed to make apologies for things I did not do. Orji won’t have any influence whatsoever on me apart from the fact that he is going to the senate. If I’m consulting senators and there are three of them, I will consult him along with the other two.
The incumbent governor and his predecessor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, fell apart and became political foes shortly after their political honeymoon. Do you envisage a repeat of such scenario between you and the out-going governor?
I do not know the exact elements and the ingredients that precipitated the problem between both of them, and I do not even think that should be my preoccupation as somebody that is going to take over in the next few days. I am a very positive person but I also know that wherever there is life, people should also consider death. I think that Governor Orji is a gentleman. I don’t think he is going to attempt to be overbearing . And I’m not going to be disrespectful just as I won’t be disrespectful to all elders in Abia State. I will place him where he belongs, accord him respect as a former governor. If I need advice, I will seek his advice as a former governor. If he gives me an advice, it is my responsibility to decipher and choose whether or not I will make use of it. If I don’t take his advice, I don’t think he will be angry because he knows that the bulk stops at my table. I assure Abians that I will not brew trouble where it doesn’t exist. I don’t envisage any problem between us.
How comfortable will you be having Governor Orji’s son as the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, assuming he is elected?
That is a pre-emptive question and I do not think it is fair for me to begin to comment on that. Whether he will become the Speaker is a matter for another day- that will be for the House of Assembly members- elect to decide. Unless you people have a way of making somebody Speaker on the pages of the newspapers. He hasn’t even told me that he wants to be Speaker.
But assuming he becomes Speaker, do you think he will pose any threat to you?
If he becomes speaker, that is okay. As far as I am concerned, Engineer Chinedum Orji is younger than I am by age. I am more experienced. I took a Ph.D almost two decades ago. At that time, I don’t think he had sat for JAMB. If he’s elected speaker, he will run the business of the House but he hasn’t told me so. He hasn’t sought my support and I am not bothered about that. I’m thinking about how to manage Abia State in the days ahead.
Now that APGA as the major opposition party has clinched 11 out of 24 seats in the House of Assembly, leaving your party with a simple majority, what kind of legislature do you expect?
The House of Assembly members-elect are all patriotic and their primary agenda should be what to do to move Abia State forward. I am expecting maturity in their approach to the business of the House. It means that all of us will collaborate to make sure that Abia is moved forward. But whatever we see in terms of House of Assembly politics, we will cross the bridge when we get to the river. I’m not threatened by the composition of the membership of the House.
It was reported that a number of Abia workers voted against your party, the PDP, during the polls in protest over months of unpaid salaries. How do you intend to contend with workers’ salary arrears when you assume power?
I’m not aware that they voted against PDP but my commitment and pledge even during our campaigns is that if I inherit salary arrears, I will pay them. But I will like to use this opportunity to also inform Abia workers to help government to help them because we must know the exact number of Abia workers. How many people are really working because I do not think it is proper to pay ghost workers. If workers are owed on my assumption of office, we will take steps to pay them. I want to reassure them that under my watch, no Abia worker will be owed salaries.
There are conflicting reports about the debt status of the state. Do you think Abia is indebted as being speculated in some quarters?
It is not about what I think. There are statistics and figures but I don’t have them off hand. But one thing I know for sure is that Abia is among the three least indebted states in Nigeria today.
How are you going to cope as governor now that the federal allocations accruing to states have continued to dwindle?
Well, the way to go is to seek development through partnership with the private sector and do something about our internally generated revenue. We will also seek the help of development partners. The next step is to also put the right people in the right places. We also hope to leverage on the human capacity which God has blessed Abia with. We must carve a niche for ourselves in the economy of Africa.
During your campaign, you said you would relocate to Aba until the commercial city is fixed. Are you still committed to that?
Well, I’m going to lay emphasis on Aba and I will spend a lot of time in Aba.
What do you think will be the fate of Abia State under the All Progressives Party- led Federal Government?
Abia State will assist Mr. President to run Nigeria very well. We have a role to play. Abia State is not going to begin a battle with the Federal Government because that is not the way to go. Some of our roads for instance, the Port Harcourt Road, Ikot Ekpene Road , Aba- Owerri Road are all federal roads and if we start by quarrelling, how do we get them done? We have seen the change at the federal level and we have embraced it. That is the reality of the moment. Abia State as an integral part of Nigeria will be loyal to Mr. President.
How soon will you organise local government council election in the state?
I’m not governor yet.
But you will soon take over power.
Until I take over, I will not be able to know the resources that are available because council poll is capital intensive. We will study the environment and know how to tackle it. It will be wrong for me to stay outside government and declare when election will be held.
