Uko Ndukwe Nkole who represents Arochukwu/Ohafia in the House of Representatives speaks with SAM IBE about the expectations of the South East in the National Assembly

Which area of legislative concern will you focus on as you settle down for business?

Primarily, I will ensure that through appropriate budgetary provision, my constituents are protected. I will also ensure that the general well being of my people is top priority. I will strive to contribute my own quota by making good laws for Nigeria to consolidate and improve on the accomplishments of the PDP led government after sixteen years of governance. I will make sure that my constituents are well represented in the green chamber in the National Assembly.

The coalition of your party (PDP) and the APC ensured the emergence of the current Senate President and the Deputy Senate President. What is your position concerning the process?

There is nothing like a coalition between party A or B. Once you are elected, you serve the national interest; the party is just a vehicle through which you are elected into the National Assembly. We considered the National interest while electing the Senate President and the Deputy Senate president. Democracy is about numbers, and when we got to the National Assembly we made sure we picked the best in both chambers. What happened was that we put the country first because we are all there after we were sworn-in according to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. At the floor of both chambers, we put the nation first. I want to call on Nigerians to respect the election of both chambers of the National Assembly. I thank President Muhammadu Buhari who says he belongs to nobody. He never interfered and this is highly commendable.

•Uko Ndukwe Nkole

What is your view concerning the election of an Igbo man as the Deputy Senate President, considering the fact that your party is now the minority in the Senate?

It is quite obvious that the South Eastern part of the country has not been fairly considered. But then, half of a bread is better than none, although we are not fully represented because of the odds against us. South East is predominantly PDP, and given that situation, it was practically impossible for the region to be accommodated in the sharing formula. But as God will have it, the legislative history of Nigeria stands on a tripod, allowing the Senate to look beyond party politics to accommodate the South East. In the green chambers, it was obvious that the South West was not carried along. Following the defeat of Hon. Femi Gbajabimila, we elected someone from the South West as Deputy Speaker irrespective of the fact that the zone already produced the Vice President. So our colleagues took a wise decision. Our own election process took a much a longer time. I want to commend the former Governor of Abia state, Chief T.A Orji. He was the first to make sure that equity prevailed in Abia state by allowing the first Ngwa man to become the governor of the state which is the first time such has happened since the creation of the state. He broke the jinx.

In my own case, Arochukwu/Ohafia has 8 clans and Arochukwu has had its fair share in House of Representatives representation. Abriba and Nkporo were also in the Senate and House of Representatives, which leaves out only Abam for such a long period. Then it was Arochukwu Federal Constituency, but today an Abam man has been given the opportunity to be there.

In the process, the former governor of Abia state brought machinery in motion, which set up the person that emerged in Abia. I am very optimistic about continuous progress. I must also commend the immediate past governor for the infrastructural development in Abia state. I see him as the father and architect of a modern Abia. Such infrastructural development as the International Conference Centre (ICC), New Government House project, roads in hinterlands, rebuilding of Umuahia roads and urban renewal projects have not been seen since the creation of the state.

If sustained, accelerated development programmes being championed by the incumbent governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, will be successful within the shortest period of time. And with the boom, the State can effectively compete with other developing states. So, in the South East, it is imperative that we understand that unity of purpose should bind us together to achieve common political gains, so that we can be in our right place in no distant time. Also, I believe that unity and common interest should be encouraged and there should be a seamless and constant synergy within the region.

What is your Advice to the Abia House of Assembly that will soon be inaugurated?

My advice to them is to consider Abia first. They are officers of the state and not the party. So, they should choose their leaders and leave out party sentiments. They should live above board and support the leader (the governor) of the state.