Reliance on govs to fund parties killing governance – Abia LP chair

Chairman of the Labour Party in Abia State, Ceekay Igara, speaks to DANIEL AYANTOYE on the efforts of the state government to alleviate the suffering of the people amid accusations by the opposition
A pro-All Progressives Congress organisation known as Abia Interest Group has alleged that the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, is funding the court case of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. How true is that?
It is a very laughable situation and very unfortunate that anybody can think about such a thing. Before Peter Obi ventured into politics, he was a billionaire. As our presidential candidate, he has been the one supporting the party and not the party supporting him. It is a figment of their imagination. It is not true. They were only looking for what to say.
Does it mean that as the only serving governor who won on the platform of the Labour Party, he is not contributing financially to his party?
Is the governor supposed to pay everybody’s dues? The governor is not supposed to pay everybody’s dues. Whatsoever they are saying is still an assumption. I am the only person that can tell you the true position.
There are concerns that funds allegedly used to fund the LP presidential candidate’s case in court are taken from the Abia State’s treasury. How will you react to this?
We are just a few months into governance; you can see the number of roads the governor is working on. Visit the Port Harcourt road, work is about to commence. Salary arrears are being paid. Why will one deep hand in the state treasury to fund an election matter in court and still engage in such great projects? Before the governor came on board, the salaries and arrears were not paid but he is paying now. Is he manufacturing money to be able to achieve that? There is no how he will empty the treasury of the state for us.
As a party man, if there is any programme we want to organise, as we are writing him, we are writing other stakeholders, but we have not even done any of such programme. We have not requested from him or anybody. So, I don’t know where they are getting some of these ideas. Perhaps that’s what they have been doing.
From your statement, you are of the view that Governor Otti is performing, but the opposition parties in the state do not agree with this position. What will you say about this?
They don’t know what to say. For us we are not distracted, we are not in any way troubled by those phantom accusations from them. Our interest is to remain focused on the reason why Abians brought us into power and that is our primary objective.
The issue of insecurity has also been a concern. What is the state governor doing?
To secure an economy is to create jobs, equip security agencies, and build trust among the populace. In terms of infrastructure, you recall that the government inaugurated ‘Operation Crush’ with vehicles and motivations to fight against insecurity. On the issue of the creation of jobs, we launched the Industrial hub in Owada where a lot of jobs will be created because several factories will come up there that will absorb many. Also, the existing industrialisation in the state is going to be by collaboration.
The governor is ensuring free flow and constant energy supply to Abians, Aba in particular. Mind you majority of the industries are moribund because they are sourcing their power from several sources and that is what is increasing their cost of operation. If there is an uninterrupted power supply, industries will increase and investors will come here. Other businesses will expand and these industries will absorb school leavers thereby reducing the unemployment rate.
In terms of communication, you can see the level of synergy that the governor is building among political parties, communities, traditional institutions, and other organisations. It is interesting to see that we are beginning to move things forward. You are aware that since we came on board, there has been absence of criminality. Also, the sports industries which will absorb another section of youths are already establishing academics to that effect and this will also reduce criminality. So, we are doing a lot of things but time will tell.
But the opposition party will not agree with you on these areas you said the state government had attained goals. Don’t you think so?
It is their business to think anyhow but Abia people see what we are doing. Nigerians see how we are running smoothly and things are going to be better.
The deputy governor recently decried the high rate of crime in the state. Why do you think it is difficult to curtail the menace?
I am not aware of what you are saying; it is not in my place to talk about criminality. It is only when I hear it from the Commissioner of Police, Army, or the DSS, that is when it becomes a concern to me. Again, there is no city anywhere in the world without an element of crime, but remember Abia is the most peaceful state in the federation now; are you not aware? Why do you have to isolate a very simple remark by the deputy governor? It shouldn’t be part of the discourse.
But the deputy governor is the Number two man in the state. Don’t you think so?
No, it shouldn’t be an issue. It could be an isolated case. I’m not aware of what you are saying.
Governor Otti is the only Labour Party governor in Nigeria. How will you describe the level of synergy between him and other governors and the presidency?
Are we the only opposition party in Nigeria? We have the All Progressives Grand Alliance and they also have one governor in the whole of Nigeria and they have been a lone ranger for many years, yet they are striving. That our governor is the only LP governor in Nigeria does not in any way affect his delivery and relationship with the Federal Government because we are autonomous. So, that does not in any way affect us. What is important is his ability to deliver and the support he gets from the people of Abia State to give them the dividend of democracy, and I think he is getting there.
Recently, the former commissioner for Information alleged that the governor appointed a non-indigene, John Udeagbala as the Mayor of Aba city. What is your take on it?
I won’t speculate. He said he wanted to make an appointment. Has he appointed him?
Do you think people should be worried about this?
It should not be a concern because firstly, he (Udeagbala) was born and bred in Aba. Secondly, he runs his business in Aba. Mind you, he is the owner of one of the largest conglomerates in Abia State. He has employed several people in Abia State. Moreover, he is a Nigerian. So, it should not be a problem. It is just that they want to be parochial and I don’t take issues with such people.
Is it right for a non-indigene to hold a key position in a state?
How many Igbo people are in Lagos, Kano, and some other places? That is to tell you the level of their thought process. We are pan-African. The governor is not the governor of the Labour Party in Abia State; he is the governor of Abia State. And he (the governor) is talking about the best hands to manage Abia. If he appoints Udeagbala and he sees that he is not performing, he will look for another person. Should they put people in charge only because they are from the state, even if a person is a criminal? It is not possible; rather they will select people who are contributing to the development of the state. It is because of this dichotomy that we are having development issues.
He (former commissioner) also said the governor was using divide and rule policy. What do you make of that?
Can he define what he meant by divide and rule? I can only respond when I understand what he is talking about.
The level of insecurity in the South-East is worrisome. How can this be curbed?
It is because of the way we are celebrating some of these criminal elements; that is the reason why they dare to continue to do what they are doing. Do you know I attended a workshop where we diagnosed the reason for the insurgency and agitation in the South-East? We found out that it was not about development, it was about personal belief, and we discovered that this could be changed through reorientation. That is why we are now trying to re-educate our people, to bring a second perspective to them. That second perspective will present a clear picture of where we should be in the next three years from where we are now, and that is all about human development.
Mind you, in the South-East, you find it difficult to see government presence. Police and soldiers’ checkpoints from one point to the other are the only federal presence you see. Assuming they are doing their job, there wouldn’t be any criminality anywhere. I think what we need to do is reorientation and the government should address the injustice against the South-East because it is glaring to everyone. If this is done, it will change the perception of the people and all these agitations will stop.
The continuous incarceration of Nnamdi Kano is believed to also be part of what made the situation in the South East worse. Do you think his release will be a solution to the situation in the region?
Sunday Igboho was arrested as Nnamdi Kanu, but Igboho has regained his freedom because he is from the South-West. Nnamdi Kano was kidnapped in a faraway country and till now, he is still in detention. These things are the perceived injustices that everybody is seeing, and once they see it, they begin to agitate. Nnamdi Kanu should be freed and as a Nigerian, if there is anything he has done against the law, the law will take its course. Putting him in custody for a very long time is not right. Of course, we know the court has granted him bail on several occasions but I don’t know why they don’t want to release him. I join other good people of Nigeria in calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
If he is released, do you think the agitation in the region will end?
If you leave him today and this agitation continues, then you will know that those involved in such an agitation are criminal elements. It will then be easier for the police and other security agencies to go after them.
It has been said that poverty is the cause of the increasing crime rate in Abia State. Do you think the state government is doing enough to alleviate the suffering of the people?
Yes. We are doing enough to alleviate the suffering of the people. You will recall that in Abia State, salaries, pensions, and gratuities were not paid for several months, and because it has become a long-term debt, it is difficult for this government to quickly reconcile that. What the government is now doing is to try to pay all the arrears. The governor said that every month, he would pay for two months. It means he will pay salaries for the current and one previous month and that is exactly what he has been doing since May when he came in, so that before December, all the arrears will be cleared.
Secondly, we are trying to give Abia the best infrastructure. Do you know people came to give me drinks and celebrate with me because there are no floods in Abia again? The government has built good drainages. It is not rocket science. Good leadership is determined to get things done and done well. So, as a party, we are doing well.
There is this belief that Aba can serve as the country’s industrial hub because of the capacity of the people to produce. Do you also feel that way?
Do you know no government has given attention to Aba as this government? We designated Aba as a zone and that is why we have a special assistant to the governor on the redesign and redevelopment of Aba as a city. We also wanted to create a ministry for Aba because of the kind of things we have given to the area. Yesterday (Monday), I addressed the stakeholders there because of the quantum of funds that the government wants to give to them. We want to ensure that the production of goods is supported. The governor has assured the people that from his security votes, he is going to do it. The government is already registering every business with some level of financial support from the government.
Your party did well in Abia but failed in other states. Why did you think the party lost despite the high level of popularity it enjoyed?
It is rigging but we didn’t allow them to rig in Abia. It was difficult to subvert the election. In Enugu State, for instance, they had eight House of Representatives seats, the Labour Party won seven, they had three Senate seats, and the LP won two. Enugu State had 24 House of Assembly seats, and LP won 14,. So, what would have stopped them from winning the governorship except for magomago (rigging)?
Do you think the LP will win in Imo and other states where elections will be held on November 11?
Let me ask you. You are in Lagos, tell yourself the truth. Are Nigerians happy with the present government? Nigerians are looking for change. So, we can win in all the states, and I’m even waiting to go and celebrate their victories. I have already prepared a jingle for Imo State.