Why we do things differently - Imo deputy governor
How do you feel serving as deputy governor of Imo State? Wherever I have found myself today, it is God first and the next person is Rochas Okorocha. The truth of the matter is that having come in from the United States, some of the things I have seen are not what I envisaged. The issues involved in governance and the individuals that make up government are the challenges themselves. I count myself blessed because I am working with a great man that is focused and knows what his people want. He makes things easy for most of us. Finding myself playing a role in the murky waters, I had to queue in to learn from my leader. He sets the pace and we follow. In Imo, what has really worked for us is not only that you have a man that is focused, we have a man who believes and who made us to believe that the best way we can achieve anything in stipulated time is through a task force process. And that is why people say we do things in unconventional way. We do it and we achieve results. Imo people would have run us off Douglas House but thank God today, we have been able to sustain what we have achieved so far, and the records are there for all to see. I am not even talking about the policies on free education and massive infrastructure. For me also, coming from the private sector and finding oneself a public servant is quite challenging, but anything that has to do with service to the people is quite interesting and you learn every day. You learn that the structure of human beings is entirely different and the structures of goods are entirely different. So, you have to marry both sides and make the best judgment.
When the governor moved to All Progressives Congress (APC) there were some resistance. How did you resolve the issue?
My federal constituencyMbaitoli/Ikeduru (Mbaike), used to be predominantly PDP. But when we came in 2011, we were then in APGA. Of course, we won Mbaitoli, my local government, but in the other part of my constituency, which is Ikeduru, we lost. There is no ward in my federal constituency or in Imo State that you will not see test of rescue mission. And that alone speaks louder than could be said. And how can you defeat free education, from primary to tertiary level? These are the hallmarks. How can you defeat 27 general hospitals in all the local governments? How can you defeat 305 primary schools? These are what we had to remind our people because they already knew about them.
There have been agitations for Owerri zone to produce the next governor of the state and people are looking up to you. Do you intend to take over from your boss in 2019?
The issue of 2019 is something that is quite too far because this is 2015. We just got re-elected. We have not even constituted a government, and then people are talking about 2019! This is like placing the cart before the horse. I am not that type of person that people can just try to mesmerise into desperation. No, I am focused, we are on a mission and our mission for the next four years is factory, factory, factory, industry, industry, industry. That is the focus, and with God helping us, we shall get there.
How would you evaluate the judgment of the election tribunal between your governor and Hon. Emeka Ihedioha?
The tribunal has revalidated our mandate and it is quite expected. Ihedioha did not have a case. You can’t be a governor with six local governments. Even the mathematics is very foxy, it cannot add up. But when Imo people spoke overwhelmingly and voted for this team led by Rochas Okorocha and me, we went for a re-run and the same Imo people revalidated it. Why are we questioning God? Now, you have gone to tribunal, the same God, the Almighty Father, validated our mandate. Anything that is in the hands of God, nobody can change it. I am the deputy governor of Imo State and I am for the whole state. So, wherever I see my brothers and sisters and my colleagues, regardless of party affiliation, I must exchange pleasantries.