Comrade Uju Akoma might not be a name in the politics of Abia
State but he is known to be a man who has and will always stand for what he
believes that is right. He is currently the director of ABIA NETWORK FOR EQUITY
AND JUSTICE, a body that speaks for the people who are politically sidelined.
In this media chat he bares all, from the sharing formular in Abia state
governorship to Abia south senatorial position to his local Government Ukwa
west. Enjoy this chat with Eze Sampson for Estreet On Tv.
Good morning sir.
Good morning gentleman of the press.
How are you doing today?
Thank God,
God is so faithful.
Can we know you please?
People know
me popularly as Com. Uju Akoma.
What do you do sir?
By his grace,
I am a Journalist by profession and a political economist.
Can you tell us few
offices you’ve held in the past?
If I start telling you too much about myself it wouldn’t be
good, but I’ll start telling you that before something great began it started
from somewhere. At the onset I was a secondary teacher in the private sector,
thereafter proceeded to the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State where I
obtained a national diploma in Mass Communication then after which I also
obtained BSc in Economics at Enugu State University of Science and Technology
(ESUT). In the profession of Journalism by his grace I’ve been an information
officer for two bodies, Ukwa West and Osisioma Ngwa Local Government councils
precisely. Not only that, I’ve been a lecturer in NCE, National Teachers
Training Institute (NTII). I was also a lecturer was established in Ukwa West.
By his grace I currently occupy a position by status that one has to be a media
Consultant and that’s my private organization. In search of service to humanity
I have also gone into civil organization that we are running right now. I’m the
director for Abia Network For Equity And Justice.
There you are, sir can
you tell us what is Abia Network for Equity all about?
Thank you very much for that question. Abia Network for
Equity is an organization that advocate for people who are the political
negligence either by appointment, infrastructure, elective offices and more. We
understand that some people are less privileged politically, so this
organization creates the platform or forum for such people to air their opinion.
As am speaking with you I have Personal Assistance and Senior Special Advisers
to the governor who are members of this organization not only at the state
level even at the Federal level representing the politically less privilege.
That automatically
means you’re into partisan politics?
Of course, I didn’t just start what am doing today, I’ve been
into politics since 2001. I’ve been a member of All Nigerian Peoples party (ANPP)
when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe was the party’s governorship candidate, I was
among his crop of councilors from Ukwa West. I remember when he visited late
Hon. Ossy Ememe who was once a member of the Federal House of Representative to
pay homage as one of the political fathers of Ukwa clan.
What can you tell us
about 2019 in Abia State?
Thank you very much, that brings us into this matter that any
man who is born into this planet earth is a political animal. You cannot
separate any man from politics, it is either you’re been governed or you’re governing
people. So, year 2019 is a year we’re expecting good people to emerge in the
course of governance. Looking at what is happening these days people are clamoring
for hearty leadership and we cannot just fold our hands watching things, we
have to guide the public to the side that will lead them to enjoy dividend of
democracy. That’s what I think about
2019 and we’re strongly behind Peoples Democratic Party.
That’s the PDP, the
party that has Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu as their flagbearer?
Yea, PDP I am an ardent supporter of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu
even before he emerged the governor of Abia State the first tenure and still
advocating for him to go for a second term come 2019. Not only that, the
passion and love we have for him, anything that will make him not to go for a
second tenure we’re not party to it. So, we advocate, as an equity and justice
loving people and a civil society, that what is good for the goose is also good
for the gander. Since the time of this democratic dispensation the Abia North
has been giving the opportunity to govern Abia for eight years, same with Abia
central now it is the turn of Abia south. So, we ask that same should be
applicable to Okezie Ikpeazu who is from the south. That notwithstanding, let
me bring to your notice that despite the political density in the state, Governor
Ikpeazu has tried beyond expectation. It’s not easy for a governor who came in
to meet a problem of 20 years to solve it within a year or two. He is trying
the much he can and I will give him kudos for that.
You sound like a
Christian, are you one?
Smiles…. By his grace if we do anything without God that will be the
end, and therefore we put God first in whatever we do, so we are Christians to
the core.
Sir, some Christians don’t believe in partisan politics what
is your advice for people like that?
I’ll advice my
brethren to be active in the political system because if you’re not there those
who’re there will decide your matter which might not be in your favor. Secondly,
the bible said that when the righteous is on the throne the people rejoice.
Though it’s true the system has already been high jacked by the wrong people
that notwithstanding is not a reason we should not be committed and part of the
system.
It is a general believe that it is
the turn of Ukwa clan to produce a senator, looking at the fact that the
governor is from Obingwa and PDP at the same time has given the ticket back to
Senator Enyi Abaribe to return to the red chamber for the fourth time, what is
your stand about that?
Smiles… thank you very much, that was a good question you asked.
Let me answer you that question this way, in the political system there’s an
evil or in democracy that exist whereby the majority of the populated area
dominate power and rule over the minority. This has been the problem and it can
only be solved through dialogue. I know that Senator Abaribe has been given the ticket by the PDP to
return to the senate, for us to get things right it something we can achieve
through dialogue. I know that Abaribe is an intellect and may be looking for
someone to hand over to in the future people like us are looking forward to
taking over from him. Laughs
So, you’re in total
support of his going back to the senate believing it will someday come back to the
people of Ukwa West?
Definitely
it’ll come back to us?
Sir, politics in Abia State is so peculiar that we have the
APC that is doing everything possible to take over the state come 2019 with Dr.
Sampson Ogah as their governorship candidate who comes from Abia North as
well as Dr. Alex Otti on the other hand who came out in 2015 and made his mark from
the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is
still saying that there’s no vacancy in Umuahia. what do you have to say about
these men that are coming out to battle for the soul of Abia come 2019?
Thank you once again, about the Abia governorship race, like
I have told you before, I’m an ardent supporter of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and
based on equity and justice. Despite the fact that we have other political
heavy weights from other political parties and senatorial districts of Abia
state, I believe equity demands that what is good for one is good for all. For
someone like Dr. Alex Otti, he is a good candidate anyway but from Abia central
as we all know then Uche Ogah who is from Abia North and Abia North have taken
their own slot by Orji Uzor Kalu and Abia central where Alex Oti comes Senator
T. A. Orji has also taken their own slot and now Okezie Ikpeazu of PDP coming
from Abia south. Let me also let you know that from then Imo State no one from
Abia south extraction has tested the governorship and now it is the turn of
Okezie Ikpeazu. Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu should complete his 8years tenure in office
before anything else that is equity and justice for us and that is what am
advocating for.
Sir, if you are saying that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu should
complete his tenure because it is the turn of Abia South and people are saying
he is not performing, are you saying that equity still bounds on him to
continue despite the fact that he is not performing as expected?
Thank you very much,
I’ll refer this question to be answered like this, your enemy can not speak
good of you, your enemy will be busy finding faults so that he will use it to
distract people’s attention from you. There are lots of evidences of Governor
Ikpeazu’s performance in his first tenure in office. For instance, the past
governors of Abia state from the north and central did not recognize the importance
of Faulks Road/Ariaria/Ukwu mango but Governor Ikpeazu in his first tenure has
made the road motorable. And they are some other evidences on the ground, Arochukwu
bridge, Ohafia and so many other places. In fact, as a journalist there are
uncountable and visible evidences to that effect. Am not a sycophant, people
should know me and they know me for that anyway. So am not just speaking for
Okezie Ikpeazu but am speaking with facts on ground that the young man should
be allow to rule Abia and the people of Abia should expect the best from him.
Thank you.
Comrade sir, if we read your lips are you saying that beyond
equity Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has performed enough to be allowed to complete his
second term in office as the governor of Abia state?
Of course, Okezie Ikpeazu has performed by the resources
available to him. In fact, I don’t want to go deep, do you know that he started
with an empty treasury? Yet he is able to perform as much as he has done, so
where do you think he will start from, if I say that it looks as if am
encroaching but this is a fact we gathered, so let me not go far and everybody
knows about it.
Thank you so far, some weeks back the Senate of the federal
republic passed a bill approving a federal polytechnic for Aba and it was also
on the news some time last year that senator T. A . Orji representing Abia
central sponsored a bill asking the that Abia State polytechnic Aba be turned
to a federal poly and finally it has been approved by the senate, what do have
you to say about that stride?
You know equity and justice that we advocate for when ever we
see anything good we must commend it. Abia is for all of us, Aba is for all us
and senator T. A. Orji has been a governor of Abia state and for him to sponsor
such bill I must give him kudos. Aba as we all know is the technological hub of
Abia State and south east. So, sponsoring such bill is one the things that will
give him recognition in the senate, therefore Abians are happy to attract such
to advance the technological strenght of our state.
Sir, Aba having a Polytechnic can you share with us some of
the benefits the people of Abia will be enjoying as a result?
There’re lots of benefits for the people of Abia state. You
know when you have an establishment of this magnitude it draws people from all
over the nation. Nigeria is a nation of multiple ethnicity. It automatically
warrant that a Yoruba, Hausa, Urhobo, Igala man and what have you will be
posted to this state to work as well as live and enjoy whatever that is
available in Abia state because it’s a federal institution or project not like
a state project that an Hausa man will come and say he doesn’t know what the
state has in mind, this is another unifying force in the state as well as the
country at large. So that is one of the benefits.
This will as well help to develop the economical base of the
region which the south east and south south will benefit from, this is a good
thing that has happened.
Now back to your constituency, you didn’t tell us where you
come from?
Smiles…
okay, I’m from a place called Umuituru Ozaa, Asa. Ozaa is a
very popular clan in Ukwa west Local Government Area.
Now tell us what is happening politically in your
constituency Ukwa west, state wise?
Eehh, in Ukwa west constituency? I’ve to tell you how glad I
am about what is happening in our state constituency. You’ll remember that I
started by saying that equity and justice is needed, even from the womb
everybody struggles and clamor for equity, we have three geopolitical zones in
Ukwa west. The Ozaa, the Ebu and the Asa group, so we ration the political
positions among the three. Right now it is the turn of Asa group and we have
the best candidate so far in the person of Hon. Goddy Adiele we’ve been praying
for him all these while. He emerged as the PDP candidate for Ukwa west
constituency, that was where my people played a good role in ensuring that the
best of their man picks the ticket. And he emerged victoriously I earnestly
commend my people and his being there will definitely bring lots of changes for
the good of Asa man which is Ukwa west entirely. Also he is a man I so much
cherish and support at all times.
Sir, you talk as if you have personal interest in the
emergence of this Hon. Goddy Adiele, how sure are we that he will give your
people quality and unreserved representation when he gets to the states
Assembly?
Smiles again… you know when I say equity and
justice I have to bring it down to this, in Asa group the other sister
communities have produced people into other elective offices, the Goddy of a
man is from Obokwe, and Obokwe has not produced a House of Assembly member not
in the past except for Jona Jide which was during the time of NPN and NPP, so
the Obokwe is too large and has not produced any elective slot from that time
till now and Goddy going there..
Is qualified?
Not only being qualified, he is also an honest man and the
people of Asa love him and strongly behind him. Am not just saying because he
may be a friend or an associate but Hon. Goddy is a good man and a man we can
confide in.
Are you saying that this is the first time the Obekwe or an
Asa man is running for the state house of Assembly?
When I talk about the Obekwe man am talking about a
particular community in Asa group under Ukwa West, so am not talking about the
Asa community which is in Ukwa west. Ukwa west has been a constituency and
people’ve been representing it at the state level before now.
You’re invariably telling us that for a long the time Ukwa
west should be expecting quality representation at the state level?
Not exactly, rather
in anticipation.
Okay, what have your group Abia Network for Equity And
Justice (ANEJ) put in place to sanitize the people to go out and vote for the
candidate of their choice?
ANEJ is an advocate body, we advocate for equity and justice
trying to enlighten people the reason they have to go out and vote for the
right candidate and the people that deserve the turn, by so doing we have our
structures on ground. As am speaking with you we are affiliated with so many
other political groups working to ensure that Hon. Goddy Adiele emerges winner in
the House of Assembly election come 2019.
Looking at your organization Abia Network for Equity and
Justice which means your network cuts across the state, now Dr. Okezie Victor
Ikpeazu has also emerged the PDP flag bearer in the state, have you group gone
out to mobilize the people of Ukwa, Asa, Obehie and others to massively go out to
vote for the governor to ensure the he returns to complete his tenure?
I told you earlier
that we advocate for equity and justice, as a body we are ardent supporter of
the PDP and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, we’ve been enlightening people on the reason
we’re supporting him and Hon. Goddy Adiele that has emerged from a particular
community even when it looks as if he has been denied the opportunity to serve
in the past.
By our status and through our media and communications we’re
trying to reach thousands of Abians and thousands of Ukwa west people to know
the rightful person to vote for and rightful position of things. As to join the
ruling and the main stream political organization that’ll give them dividend of
democracy which is PDP and PDP candidates.
What is your message for the people of Abia State in terms of
what your network is doing, looking at the fact that your network is new to the
people of Abia State, what is your message to them?
Thank you for that question, it takes only but a day to know of
a person and what he has in stock. What we are telling the people of Abia state
is that anybody that is against Okezie Ikpeazu is not doing right since this is
the turn of Abia south senatorial district. Nobody dragged the turn of Abia
North and Central with them so we are saying that none should interfere with
the governor as he prepares to complete the turn of the south. Let us join our
hands together and return him to complete his second term in office. For your
information Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is a man with a large heart and that is the kind
of a man we need in Abia who can accommodate all. I never know or think that
Okezie Ikpeazu will disappoint anybody notwithstanding what people maybe assuming
for now. So, Okezie Ikpeazu is a nice candidate and the best candidate Abia
will have tomorrow and the next, and Abians will never regret having him as
their governor for eight years. I assure Abians of that. Thank you very much.
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