The compelling factors agitating for power to make way for what is now merit and competence really call for a serious concern. It must be pointed out that since 1999; Enugu State has kept an immaculate record on zoning. However, there are fears that noble cause might be burst in 2023 due to the number of big shots already jostling for position. Moreover, all the three big boys namely Gburugburu, Ebeano and Ikeoha are interested.
In this interview with News Echo, Professor Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji, PDP governorship aspirant, said zoning or no zoning, he would contest for the governorship election in 2023. And if eventually he goes through, he would make the state better.
The governorship election in Enugu State, going by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) time table is slated for 2023. Despite the fact that it is still afar, political office seekers have begun strategizing ahead of the poll. What is your plan for the election?
For 2023, looking at the next two years and three months, we are in 2021 now and that means the next governor of Enugu State will be sworn in by May 29 or June 12, 2023. People are beginning to make assumptions, a lot of insinuations here and there; those who are also interested have started showing body languages towards that direction. I believe that people should look out for the best because Enugu State is very important, very strategic in the South East. In fact, it’s the capital of South East. Whatever happens in Enugu State spreads to other states.
So, I think it is a good thing people should look out for the best politician to emerge to handle the affairs of the state of which lots of underground work are going on now in that regard. I am highly interested in becoming Enugu State governor in 2023.
You are aware that in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) there is an unwritten agreement about power rotation. What is your take on the zoning system?
That is one thing that has given Enugu State the pride of place in Eastern politics because as you are very much aware the level of casualties that follow election activities are very much reduced in Enugu State owing to the fact that there is that gentleman understanding on the unwritten agreement where power shifts from one senatorial district to another after every eight years given the fact that a particular governor has to do two tenures.
I think that the next dispensation will still be the same despite that there are agitations here and there. Remember that even in the past when the zoning system still remained untouched that people from other senatorial districts also contested. Of course, as we said, it is unwritten agreement, that is a gentleman agreement. Not binding constitutionally on people stating that people from the other senatorial districts should not contest. People are free to contest but based on the fact that the agreement has been in place, people believed that politicians in Enugu should respect it but we are not taking it for granted.
PDP at the national level said there is no zoning and if it is brought down to states, are you comfortable if zoning is removed in Enugu State in 2023?
As I said in my opening speech, the best crop of politicians should emerge. I know that the Enugu East Senatorial District where the zoning will favour in this dispensation has a lot of reliable and credible politicians that can emerge. But people have reasoned in the past, if for any reason we don’t have competent people from Enugu East, why won’t the process be elongated, made more omnibuses to accommodate other people from other senatorial districts. If, that is the argument it is not bad but then, the fact that Enugu East can produce some people credible enough for the position of governor, if that gentleman agreement is still respected, it’s still a good one. And the national stating that it should not zone the presidential ticket to south East as the zone has clamoured, gives a lot of worry owing to the fact that South East has been short-changed in the national politics.
The only alternative it has now is something that can calm down the agitations of the people to see that Easterners are a part of the ongoing political system. I still believe that in the course of time things may change and they may eventually consider South East flying the presidential flag.
Critics of zoning system contend that it is undemocratic and does not produce the best candidate as meritocracy is sacrificed on the altar of rotation. How do you respond to this?
Democracy is a process that allows people to exercise their franchise. So, if you try as much as possible to keep some people off from participating in electoral office, It may seem as if you have disenfranchised them. That’s where undemocratic might come in inverted coma but given the fact, there is an agreement that has been adopted which is a gentleman agreement, which says do this for me and I will do that for you. Of course, don’t forget there is Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, which allows people to settle disputes out of court. If people can on their own agree that this is what we want to do, how things will go and have been respecting it, I think that is morally correct. But if you want to make it more of constitutional thing, it should be thrown open to everybody to contest but people will now feel why it is in my own turn that you’re doing this? You started this, give it to this and to this, now that it is our turn, why are we not respecting it. I think people should look at it holistically.
You have been away from this country for many years, how are you going to cope with the Nigeria type of democracy, bearing in mind that in the country, money talks. Do you have all it takes to fight money-bags and those who are already on ground in Enugu State?
When things are done on merit, there is always opportunity cost. I know in Nigeria you don’t wade into politics when you’re coming from outside. Of course, from history, those who came from outside are always the best that will bring innovations to the system because the system is moribund as it is. Fresh ideas need to be injected in the system to revitalize and improve on the political system we have now. But where people believe that it must be money politics and then things will go bad. Money must change hands, you must share money before people will believe in you. If someone comes to share money and he gets into office you will not see results because he feels he has settled you.
So, it is more logical to think that way. The best way for the person is for him to replenish what he has disbursed during the process of election. But if someone works with you as a team and eventually you get into power, it becomes something that makes you a stakeholder in the arrangement. He has not paid you and it’s your own right to request for what is yours. So, implore the electorate not to look at money as a tent of voting for someone. If you believe in someone’s credibility, you should be able to access the person. Based on that, you cast your vote and you will get full return in that regards. I think going specifically on your question, if I have the financial muscle, well, if everything is done the way it should be, I should be able to compete favourably with any politician in Nigeria. So, I think it is important for people to know that money is not the main thing but credibility counts.
May we have a brief insight on the programs you have for the people of Enugu state?
I have always said this to many people. There are aspects of governance people should begin to thinker with, good governance brings about good education, roads, makes priority, access to portable drinking water, electricity, makes provision for good healthcare system, cares for the elderly, like pensioners, it entails to respect the right of everybody. Everybody is equal before the law. The law deals with the poor as well as the rich just the same way. There is no discrimination before the law, so there should be no discrimination when it comes to social utility, social amenities. So, I believe that government should be a holistic thing because democracy is an amalgamation of two equals, demos and cratos. So I believe working in tandem is what required, people should see themselves as stakeholders. It’s not about the other person but about us. Not about them. People should think intrinsically not extrinsically in other to think that they are part of solution not part of problem.
From 1999 to now, elected governors came into government through godfathers. Do you have any godfather to make you realize your dream in 2023?
I always say, cronyism is in the bane of politics and it also helps. If you’re going to apply for a job and someone who taught you in school or have worked with you somewhere earlier before the present employment writes a letter of recommendation, it’s not bad. It’s just writing that he knows Mr A and he is capable of doing this and doing that. It is like when you are pursuing a post graduate course and your lecturer writes a letter of recommendation for you, saying that you’re academically sound, it’s not bad.
So, when an older politician, who has been in the sphere recommends somebody, it’s not a bad thing but when it is bad is when there is imposition. Where you think that this person must be there whether people like it or not is not true democracy. So, cronyism has two parts, given what is merited and being not merited. If it’s not merited, that is where is bad but where it is merited that calls for joy.
In Enugu state like any other state we have a high rate of unemployment. In concrete terms, how will you address this nagging issue?
I have always said time and again that government is the last bus stop. Why, because, it takes a good political will for the economy to be robust. Where the political will is not strong despite the political model you have will crash, any innovative idea will crash, any entrepreneur idea will crash. So, government has to put policies in place.
If these policies are well enunciated, people can run their own firm, business and can run their outfit without disturbances from anywhere. Government is in charge to push some of these laws to the common man and where it’s stringent the businesses will not thrive. If these laws are people friendly, businesses will thrive. I don’t really support that government must give people money. You must have very viable proposal that government can sponsor or support both directly or indirectly. These are some of the things we can look into. I believe that people who are having interest in governance should perceive to know how and where policies should be modified to suit certain businesses.
What is the spirit motivating you to become the governor of Enugu State in 2023?
Well, it’s very important question that people should know why they inspire and for what they inspire. I have watched the Enugu state policies from the sidelines for a long time and seen where people did what is right and what was wrong. I have seen most of the game and know where most of the errors are. Just as a coach will squat and watch his team playing, after half time will address the errors.
I have taking a long haul of trying to access some of these errors and now not thinking of where to do something different but better. Because difference might not necessary mean better. This is so because difference might mean going from bad to worse. It must be something better than what exists.
If the governorship is thrown open to the three senatorial zones, will you still contest?
Yes. Of course I will contest. There is nothing that will stop me from contesting. Let the best emerge. As long as it is the best no problem. But then, the fact that people are not looking out for the best, they are there to install a stooge that is not a fair system. Whether it is thrown open to the entire three senatorial zones or restricted to my zone which is Enugu East, I will still be in the race.
X-raying you critically, one finds it difficult to locate you politically. Do we see you as someone coming from Ebeano, Gburugburu or Ikeoha the three major political structures in the state? Are any of these platforms backing you?
I am not in any of the three. The reason is that if I say that I am from this one or the other one, it will be as if am going to do exactly what the person has done. I am going to do something that is entirely different. Out of the three you mentioned, I have their best parts and will bring my best part to become a fourth action to form a holistic number. It will not be a mediocrity kind of thing but something more fundamental.
One thing is having ambition and another is realizing it. How are you going to feel if someone like Senator Ike Ekweremadu is elected at the PDP primary? Will you decamp to another party to advance your dream?
I have not given it a thought that I have to move from one party to another but it depends on the driving force. Governorship is not a do or die thing, anybody can emerge. It can either be Ike Ekweremadu, me or any other person, but all that I am saying is that Enugu State deserves the best. It’s not the matter of who emerges but the best that should emerge.
Since the inception of the 4th republic in 1999, the PDP has held sway in the five states of South East but now they have only but two. Are you comfortable with the development?
Political party is an animate. It’s the human beings in the party that make the party what it is. If people begin to jump from party to another, I begin to doubt the credibility of those people because if you sit there you can actually achieve what you planned for your people. Governor David Umahi has been doing well in Ebonyi State, I visited there and I saw what he did in infrastructure development. It must not be the party that will make you a better governor but what you believe in yourself that will make you deliver the message. If you move from party B to A and you don’t have any ideology for tour people, you cannot send any message.
There is this belief that there is no political ideology in Nigeria. Do you have anything contrary to the assertion?
It depends on the point of view of the speaker. Nigerians have good ideology but what has broken the peoples’ ideology in Nigeria is the issue of money. People know what is right but because of money have chosen the wrong way. Nigerians visit outside the country and acquire the best knowledge ever but when they return to the country they begin to set aside what they leant and say is Nigerian factor. There is always a Nigerian factor to it. This is where the question of steadfastness comes in. So, the ideology is there.
I don’t want to sound like a political demagogue but of course I am. If people think that when you do it the way it is done in Europe that we are trying to be more Western, that will be wrong because there is a little bit of conscience in applying it. So, I think people can learn from what happens over there and try to put it in place in our own country. These are the things that can sustain our democracy at large.
Do you think Federal Government is addressing the issue of insecurity properly?
The Federal Government is not addressing the issue of insecurity properly. It’s very worrisome because I do not see a situation where you wake up and people have been kidnapped here, the next moment they will kidnap the other side. Is it trade by barter? They kidnap, negotiate and pay money. It has to stop. A country where banditry has turned into business was not the dream of the Founding fathers.
Security of life and property is the primary responsibility of government. If the government fails in business, it is better as they have no business being there. The first and foremost responsibility of government is security of life not the type of food to eat. People will always find a way to eat. Security should be paramount. Government has the money to buy the equipment and provide security. Individuals are not equipped to fight war or insurgency. It is only left for government to provide security for the masses and of they are not doing that, they have failed.
On Igbo Presidency, do you think it is feasible in 2023?
Yes. It’s feasible because a lot of permutations are ongoing now and at the nick of time things will fall into place.
How do you see the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) agitation as well a push by other pro-democracy movements?
Every agitation requires attention by government. Government can find out what can be done to stop the agitation. Those agitating have reasons for agitation. What could be wrong is doing such in a militaristic manner. Every agitation should be looked into and people should be talked to and find a middle ground. It could be that if an Igbo president emerges, the restiveness of any group in that line will eventually be a thing of the past. I believe that there must be something that can be done to address the issue. Government cannot over look the issue.
The compelling factors agitating for power to make way for what is now merit and competence really call for a serious concern. It must be pointed out that since 1999; Enugu State has kept an immaculate record on zoning. However, there are fears that noble cause might be burst in 2023 due to the number of big shots already jostling for position. Moreover, all the three big boys namely Gburugburu, Ebeano and Ikeoha are interested. In this interview with News Echo, Professor Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji, PDP governorship aspirant, said zoning or no zoning, he would contest for the governorship election in 2023. And if eventually he goes through, he would make the state better.
The governorship election in Enugu State, going by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) time table is slated for 2023. Despite the fact that it is still afar, political office seekers have begun strategizing ahead of the poll. What is your plan for the election?
For 2023, looking at the next two years and three months, we are in 2021 now and that means the next governor of Enugu State will be sworn in by May 29 or June 12, 2023. People are beginning to make assumptions, a lot of insinuations here and there; those who are also interested have started showing body languages towards that direction. I believe that people should look out for the best because Enugu State is very important, very strategic in the South East. In fact, it’s the capital of South East. Whatever happens in Enugu State spreads to other states. So, I think it is a good thing people should look out for the best politician to emerge to handle the affairs of the state of which lots of underground work are going on now in that regard. I am highly interested in becoming Enugu State governor in 2023.
You are aware that in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) there is an unwritten agreement about power rotation. What is your take on the zoning system?
That is one thing that has given Enugu State the pride of place in Eastern politics because as you are very much aware the level of casualties that follow election activities are very much reduced in Enugu State owing to the fact that there is that gentleman understanding on the unwritten agreement where power shifts from one senatorial district to another after every eight years given the fact that a particular governor has to do two tenures. I think that the next dispensation will still be the same despite that there are agitations here and there.
Remember that even in the past when the zoning system still remained untouched that people from other senatorial districts also contested. Of course, as we said, it is unwritten agreement, that is a gentleman agreement. Not binding constitutionally on people stating that people from the other senatorial districts should not contest. People are free to contest but based on the fact that the agreement has been in place, people believed that politicians in Enugu should respect it but we are not taking it for granted.
PDP at the national level said there is no zoning and if it is brought down to states, are you comfortable if zoning is removed in Enugu State in 2023?
As I said in my opening speech, the best crop of politicians should emerge. I know that the Enugu East Senatorial District where the zoning will favour in this dispensation has a lot of reliable and credible politicians that can emerge. But people have reasoned in the past, if for any reason we don’t have competent people from Enugu East, why won’t the process be elongated, made more omnibuses to accommodate other people from other senatorial districts. If, that is the argument it is not bad but then, the fact that Enugu East can produce some people credible enough for the position of governor, if that gentleman agreement is still respected, it’s still a good one. And the national stating that it should not zone the presidential ticket to south East as the zone has clamoured, gives a lot of worry owing to the fact that South East has been short-changed in the national politics. The only alternative it has now is something that can calm down the agitations of the people to see that Easterners are a part of the ongoing political system. I still believe that in the course of time things may change and they may eventually consider South East flying the presidential flag.
Critics of zoning system contend that it is undemocratic and does not produce the best candidate as meritocracy is sacrificed on the altar of rotation. How do you respond to this?
Democracy is a process that allows people to exercise their franchise. So, if you try as much as possible to keep some people off from participating in electoral office, It may seem as if you have disenfranchised them. That’s where undemocratic might come in inverted coma but given the fact, there is an agreement that has been adopted which is a gentleman agreement, which says do this for me and I will do that for you. Of course, don’t forget there is Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, which allows people to settle disputes out of court. If people can on their own agree that this is what we want to do, how things will go and have been respecting it, I think that is morally correct. But if you want to make it more of constitutional thing, it should be thrown open to everybody to contest but people will now feel why it is in my own turn that you’re doing this? You started this, give it to this and to this, now that it is our turn, why are we not respecting it. I think people should look at it holistically.
You have been away from this country for many years, how are you going to cope with the Nigeria type of democracy, bearing in mind that in the country, money talks. Do you have all it takes to fight money-bags and those who are already on ground in Enugu State?
When things are done on merit, there is always opportunity cost. I know in Nigeria you don’t wade into politics when you’re coming from outside. Of course, from history, those who came from outside are always the best that will bring innovations to the system because the system is moribund as it is. Fresh ideas need to be injected in the system to revitalize and improve on the political system we have now. But where people believe that it must be money politics and then things will go bad. Money must change hands, you must share money before people will believe in you. If someone comes to share money and he gets into office you will not see results because he feels he has settled you. So, it is more logical to think that way.
The best way for the person is for him to replenish what he has disbursed during the process of election. But if someone works with you as a team and eventually you get into power, it becomes something that makes you a stakeholder in the arrangement. He has not paid you and it’s your own right to request for what is yours. So, implore the electorate not to look at money as a tent of voting for someone. If you believe in someone’s credibility, you should be able to access the person. Based on that, you cast your vote and you will get full return in that regards. I think going specifically on your question, if I have the financial muscle, well, if everything is done the way it should be, I should be able to compete favourably with any politician in Nigeria. So, I think it is important for people to know that money is not the main thing but credibility counts.
May we have a brief insight on the programs you have for the people of Enugu state?
I have always said this to many people. There are aspects of governance people should begin to thinker with, good governance brings about good education, roads, makes priority, access to portable drinking water, electricity, makes provision for good healthcare system, cares for the elderly, like pensioners, it entails to respect the right of everybody. Everybody is equal before the law. The law deals with the poor as well as the rich just the same way. There is no discrimination before the law, so there should be no discrimination when it comes to social utility, social amenities. So, I believe that government should be a holistic thing because democracy is an amalgamation of two equals, demos and cratos. So I believe working in tandem is what required, people should see themselves as stakeholders. It’s not about the other person but about us. Not about them. People should think intrinsically not extrinsically in other to think that they are part of solution not part of problem.
From 1999 to now, elected governors came into government through godfathers. Do you have any godfather to make you realize your dream in 2023?
I always say, cronyism is in the bane of politics and it also helps. If you’re going to apply for a job and someone who taught you in school or have worked with you somewhere earlier before the present employment writes a letter of recommendation, it’s not bad. It’s just writing that he knows Mr A and he is capable of doing this and doing that. It is like when you are pursuing a post graduate course and your lecturer writes a letter of recommendation for you, saying that you’re academically sound, it’s not bad. So, when an older politician, who has been in the sphere recommends somebody, it’s not a bad thing but when it is bad is when there is imposition. Where you think that this person must be there whether people like it or not is not true democracy. So, cronyism has two parts, given what is merited and being not merited. If it’s not merited, that is where is bad but where it is merited that calls for joy.
In Enugu state like any other state we have a high rate of unemployment. In concrete terms, how will you address this nagging issue?
I have always said time and again that government is the last bus stop. Why, because, it takes a good political will for the economy to be robust. Where the political will is not strong despite the political model you have will crash, any innovative idea will crash, any entrepreneur idea will crash. So, government has to put policies in place. If these policies are well enunciated, people can run their own firm, business and can run their outfit without disturbances from anywhere. Government is in charge to push some of these laws to the common man and where it’s stringent the businesses will not thrive. If these laws are people friendly, businesses will thrive. I don’t really support that government must give people money. You must have very viable proposal that government can sponsor or support both directly or indirectly. These are some of the things we can look into. I believe that people who are having interest in governance should perceive to know how and where policies should be modified to suit certain businesses.
What is the spirit motivating you to become the governor of Enugu State in 2023?
Well, it’s very important question that people should know why they inspire and for what they inspire. I have watched the Enugu state policies from the sidelines for a long time and seen where people did what is right and what was wrong. I have seen most of the game and know where most of the errors are. Just as a coach will squat and watch his team playing, after half time will address the errors. I have taking a long haul of trying to access some of these errors and now not thinking of where to do something different but better. Because difference might not necessary mean better. This is so because difference might mean going from bad to worse. It must be something better than what exists.
If the governorship is thrown open to the three senatorial zones, will you still contest?
Yes. Of course I will contest. There is nothing that will stop me from contesting. Let the best emerge. As long as it is the best no problem. But then, the fact that people are not looking out for the best, they are there to install a stooge that is not a fair system. Whether it is thrown open to the entire three senatorial zones or restricted to my zone which is Enugu East, I will still be in the race.
X-raying you critically, one finds it difficult to locate you politically. Do we see you as someone coming from Ebeano, Gburugburu or Ikeoha the three major political structures in the state? Are any of these platforms backing you?
I am not in any of the three. The reason is that if I say that I am from this one or the other one, it will be as if am going to do exactly what the person has done. I am going to do something that is entirely different. Out of the three you mentioned, I have their best parts and will bring my best part to become a fourth action to form a holistic number. It will not be a mediocrity kind of thing but something more fundamental.
One thing is having ambition and another is realizing it. How are you going to feel if someone like Senator Ike Ekweremadu is elected at the PDP primary? Will you decamp to another party to advance your dream?
I have not given it a thought that I have to move from one party to another but it depends on the driving force. Governorship is not a do or die thing, anybody can emerge. It can either be Ike Ekweremadu, me or any other person, but all that I am saying is that Enugu State deserves the best. It’s not the matter of who emerges but the best that should emerge.
Since the inception of the 4th republic in 1999, the PDP has held sway in the five states of South East but now they have only but two. Are you comfortable with the development?
Political party is an animate. It’s the human beings in the party that make the party what it is. If people begin to jump from party to another, I begin to doubt the credibility of those people because if you sit there you can actually achieve what you planned for your people. Governor David Umahi has been doing well in Ebonyi State, I visited there and I saw what he did in infrastructure development. It must not be the party that will make you a better governor but what you believe in yourself that will make you deliver the message. If you move from party B to A and you don’t have any ideology for tour people, you cannot send any message.
There is this belief that there is no political ideology in Nigeria. Do you have anything contrary to the assertion?
It depends on the point of view of the speaker. Nigerians have good ideology but what has broken the peoples’ ideology in Nigeria is the issue of money. People know what is right but because of money have chosen the wrong way. Nigerians visit outside the country and acquire the best knowledge ever but when they return to the country they begin to set aside what they leant and say is Nigerian factor.
There is always a Nigerian factor to it. This is where the question of steadfastness comes in. So, the ideology is there. I don’t want to sound like a political demagogue but of course I am. If people think that when you do it the way it is done in Europe that we are trying to be more Western, that will be wrong because there is a little bit of conscience in applying it. So, I think people can learn from what happens over there and try to put it in place in our own country. These are the things that can sustain our democracy at large.
Do you think Federal Government is addressing the issue of insecurity properly?
The Federal Government is not addressing the issue of insecurity properly. It’s very worrisome because I do not see a situation where you wake up and people have been kidnapped here, the next moment they will kidnap the other side. Is it trade by barter? They kidnap, negotiate and pay money. It has to stop. A country where banditry has turned into business was not the dream of the Founding fathers.
Security of life and property is the primary responsibility of government. If the government fails in business, it is better as they have no business being there. The first and foremost responsibility of government is security of life not the type of food to eat. People will always find a way to eat. Security should be paramount. Government has the money to buy the equipment and provide security. Individuals are not equipped to fight war or insurgency. It is only left for government to provide security for the masses and of they are not doing that, they have failed.
On Igbo Presidency, do you think it is feasible in 2023?
Yes. It’s feasible because a lot of permutations are ongoing now and at the nick of time things will fall into place.
How do you see the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) agitation as well a push by other pro-democracy movements?
Every agitation requires attention by government. Government can find out what can be done to stop the agitation. Those agitating have reasons for agitation. What could be wrong is doing such in a militaristic manner. Every agitation should be looked into and people should be talked to and find a middle ground. It could be that if an Igbo president emerges, the restiveness of any group in that line will eventually be a thing of the past. I believe that there must be something that can be done to address the issue. Government cannot over look the issue.
