Chief Charles Obioha Ogbonnaya is the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Government House Umuahia. In this interview with SAM OBINNA IBE in his office, the Ibeku born political tactician sees nothing wrong on the position of some PDP governors that their National Chairman, Dr Adamu Mu’azu should resign given the poor performance of the Party at the just concluded 2015 general elections
How do you react to the trouble in PDP leading to some governors asking NWC members, including the National Chairman of your party to resign?
For 16 years, PDP has been in power, while some other parties were in opposition. It is always the case when people are no longer happy with you. People will vote you out. That is not the end of your life or party. As a mark of honour, if you led people to war and performed poorly, you have to resign. You don’t even need people to tell you to resign as in the case of Adamu Mu’azu. The leadership of Labour Party in United Kingdom performed badly in an election, he resigned. So, Mu’azu, all the quarrels mudslinging should not be. Let him throw in the towel and allow other people to take over. All criticisms and counter-criticisms should not be there. I urge members of my party to look inwards, when you didn’t do well, you should give way for others to take over honourably.
I believe that PDP constitution is faulty. Chapter 8 of PDP Constitution that deals with nominations of candidates into public office, I think this section of the party’s constitution is undemocratic and draconic in nature. I make bold to say that this section should be amended because you cannot sit down in your office in Abuja and determine who goes for election in say Umuahia Central State Constituency. How can you sit in Abuja and determine who becomes the next governor of the State? That is what happened when our brother, Alex Otti came to run for election, he went to purchase that position in Abuja and ignored the State Chapter of the party. He went there and spent millions of dollars.
Another section of the constitution that baffles me is this section that deals with waiver. The chapter of the party should be given power to grant waivers to governorship candidates and members of House of Assemblies while the National Chapter at Abuja should grant waiver for somebody running for president. This will however make the waiver issue more democratic than the other way round.
Governor T. A. Orji will be taking a bow come May 29, 2015 after the expiration of his mandatory two tenures, how would you assess his performances so far?
In governance, every person will be assessed with what he has done; what is on ground. When you look at what is on ground, the resources at his disposal, you can agree with me that he has done very well. We may not appreciate his performances now, but in the next two to three years, Abians will appreciate him. You cannot accuse him of embezzlement of any money. And he is not owing, money unlike other state governors who are owing billions of naira. Abians should appreciate their governor who did not go to borrow money thereby putting the in-coming governor in debt. Assessing him, I will say he has done 85 per cent well.
On 29 May, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, your Party’s gubernatorial candidate will be sworn in as the next Executive Governor of Abia State. What will be your advice to him?
History will be made on 29 May 2015, when Abia South Senatorial Zone, somebody from Ukwa and Ngwa extraction would be sworn in as the next governor of Abia state. History will be made because this is the first time, a man coming from that part of the state will govern the state since its creation on 27 August, 1991. It will indeed be a big history for the people of that place and Abians in general. I want to appreciate our party (PDP)and our Governor, Chief T. A Orji for his sense of equity, justice and fairness, and oneness to cede that position to “ndi Ngwa na Ukwa”. As we all know, Aba is the commercial nerve centre of Abia State nay Nigeria. So many issues have been raised about that city which border on cleanliness, road network, security and more importantly commerce which means that all eyes are on the Governor-elect on what he is going to do or how he is going to develop Aba. I have no doubt in my mind that Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu being an Aba man, born and raised in Aba, understands the problem of Aba people. Remember, he was the Deputy General Manager of ASEPA Aba Zone, traversing all nooks and crannies carting away refuse, I have no doubt that one or two roads would be commissioned in his first 100 days in office.
Majority of Abians are rejoicing on his victory, but some said he did not win. What is your take on this?
In a situation where there is a contest, one person will win. In case of Nigeria, nobody gives up when he is defeated. It is only President Goodluck Jonathan that congratulated Buhari in defeat. That is why there is election tribunal for aggrieved people. For the people agitating that Ikpeazu did not win, it is not a new thing. It is certain that some people will not be happy in defeat, the courts are there. But we in PDP are happy to savor our victory given to us by Abians. We are not looking back to give Abians dividends of democracy.