Comrade Onyendozi Onwe is the State Coordinator of Enugu State Citizens Support for Good Governance (ESCSEG). He was a former Social Democratic Party (SDP) House of Assembly candidate in 2019 for Nkanu-West Constituency in Enugu State. Onwe led Nigeria Associations of Nigerian students (NANS), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) chapter. He recently spoke to News Echo Correspondent, CHUMA AUSTIN on the launching of security outfit christened: “Operation Restore Peace” in South East Zone by the police, build up to 2023 general elections and other burning national issues. Enjoy the chat.
Excerpt:
There are mixed reactions to the last week launching of “Operation Restore Peace” in Enugu by the police to tackle the rising cases of insecurity in Southeast Zone. While some said the security operation will stem the growing tension in the zone, others said dialogue would have been more appropriate. What is your position on the security measure by the authority?
The newly launched security outfit in the South East code-named “Operation restore peace” by the acting Inspector General of Police to tackle insecurity in Igbo land is a welcome development. This operation should be genuinely carried out by the men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) engaged in this exercise and not vendetta mission. Operation Python dance is still very fresh in the heart of many south easterners. I employ NPF to apply every sense of professionalism and friendliness to the people of the region while this exercise last.
This will engender co-operation among the populace. However, while the police work on restoring peace, let it be known that they can’t be peace without justice. Therefore, every effort must be made to identify the root and immediate cause(s) of this insecurity in the South East and address it. Otherwise, operation restore peace may end up being effort in futility.
Ndigbo are seeking a Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023. Do you think it will be feasible amidst the call for restructuring by the Igbo elite and creation of a separate state from Nigeria as championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)?
I am an Igbo man before being a Nigerian. I believe in the unity of Nigeria but a situation whereby a section of the people are neglected, it becomes annoying. The rise up of Nnamdi Kanu is as a result of the neglect of Ndigbo by successive regimes in this country. When the Niger Delta people agitated over deprivation and neglect despite the huge available natural resources present in their area, the Federal Government quickly created Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to calm their fraying nerves.
If not for the perceived hatred of the powers that be has for Ndigbo, I don’t think the suffering we (Igbo) are having today would have been there. I think the best thing is for Igbo to produce the next president. It will give Ndigbo a sense of belonging, that Igbo are equal owners and partners of Nigeria. The agitation for Biafra republic is as a result of marginalization of Igbo over the years. It is only the South East zone that has not produced Nigeria president since 1999. A Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023 will be feasible if there are adequate consultations and co-operations from other ethnic nationalities. But from now, I have not seen Igbo man becoming Nigeria’s president in 2023 largely because of Igbo phobia. Nobody wants to identify with Ndigbo.
As a build up to 2023 general elections, do you think Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an apex umbrella of Igbo socio-cultural associations, is doing enough for realization of the dream of Igbo presidency in next political dispensation?
Well, when you talk of politics all over the world, there can never be a notable discussion where everyone will agree so easily on a crucial matter, saying for instance, we are sending Mr A or Mr. B as our candidate. Ohanaeze Ndigbo despite the internal crisis, as a cultural organization, has been playing its role to bring Igbo together. But when it comes to politics, I don’t think Ohanaeze Ndigbo is championing a particular candidate for now.
Recently, I heard in the media that Igbo cannot be talking of Igbo president and at the same time agitating for a Biafra republic. It means that Igbo are not considered for Nigeria president. The effect of self-determination has spread to other ethnic groups. It has spread to South-West where they are agitating for Oduduwa and Middle Belt who wants to separate itself from the core north.
All these things are beginning to emerge because of injustice, oppression, deprivation, and grip of power by a particular section of the country. I think the Ohanaeze Ndigbo is building on the existing unity being brought by IPOB and other pro-democracy groups to make Ndigbo have a common voice in national politics in 2023. IPOB is on collision course with Ohanaeze because of differences in methodology. Youths are the strength of the nation. Ohanaeze cannot do without the youths. So, the best thing is for Ohanaeze and the youths to come up with strong opinions that are not contrary to the general views of the people. Ohanaeze should build confidence in the people to strengthen Igbo as a nation.
How do you react to the recent alarm on the alleged coup plot by the Presidency?
The issue of coup plot is not new in Nigeria. I do not believe in the military taking over the government again but I subscribe to changing of government through the ballot box. From all indications, from all indices, the present government has failed the people. Is it in aspect of security, economy, name it? So, if it is in a civilized clime, the opposition party will make a move to impeach the President.
I think the opposition is failing on its part because when All Progressive Congress (APC) was in opposition, you saw how they tackled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. I suggest that the government should investigate the source of the coup plot since it was them that mentioned it. As long as the national assembly is not doing the needful by bringing sanity to this country, making sure that all the three organs of government are on check, our leaders will continue to live in fear due to bad policies and programs that attract anger from the people.
As it is, I do not know the difference between civilian regime and the military government. If you go to major streets, you see soldiers all over. If you go to Owerri, you see soldiers as if we are in a state of emergency. Go to Borno State the same thing. Government should provide people- oriented programs to reduce hunger, restiveness and hopelessness in the land. Many people are hungry. No job and even those who are working are not paid their salaries as at when due. Nigerians want to enjoy democracy dividends which are hallmarks of democratic rule.
If you are in the shoe of President Muhammadu Buhari, what will you do to save the nation from total collapse?
What I will do is to be fair to all. No ethnic or religious biases. There should be equity, justice and fairness in my government. There should be accountability. The world is already seeing the insecurity and the insecurity is as a result of injustice.
There can never be peace when there is injustice. Some parts of the country are feeling marginalized. Some parts felt not being part of the system. To halt the country from further drift, I will initiate people-oriented policies and programs, rejig the economy and appoint the right people at the right places.
Available statistics show that you are the vanguard of youth emancipation and good leadership in the Enugu State and you have been using your organization to drive your ambition, what is this your platform ESCSEG all about?
Enugu State Citizens Support for Equity and Good Governance (ESCSEG) is a socio-political pressure movement with presence in all the 260 political wards in Enugu state. Our activities are towards promotion of good governance, equity, justice and fairness in all spheres of the state in distribution of our common resources. We engage the government constructively whenever we criticize.
I give you example, during the EndSARS saga last year, ESCSEG voice was on top condemning the brutal murder of defenseless protesters by the security agencies. We did not stop there, when the protest turned violent and destructive, we engage the protesters using our peace mechanism channels to urge them to exercise restraint and to give peace a chance having made their grievances known to government. Also recently, when the Enugu State House of Assembly came up with obnoxious bill for life pension for ex-governors and deputy, ESCSEG was one of the groups that ensured that the bill was suspended.
We even went as far as suggesting useful bills that would be beneficial to the citizens which the lawmakers can initiate. So to us in ESCSEG, our mission is very simply, to engage the citizens to participate actively in the political processes thereby reducing political apathy among the citizens of the state. Until the citizens are politically and consciously aware of their political, economical and civic responsibilities, we will continue to have problems of leader-follower syndrome.
“For now, I do not have any political interest in 2023. My main focus now as the Coordinator of ESCSEG is to see how we can change the political narrative of our state. The era of endorsement by few political elites must come to an end come 2023. We want to see citizens deciding who represent them at all levels of government through transparent electoral processes. See; let me tell you, non-existence of opposition parties have deprived the people of Enugu State a lot”.
The current problems we are facing in the country today are traceable to unwillingness of the citizens (followers) to follow due process as a result of decades of bad governance. The level of distrust between the governed and the governance is high. We at ESCSEG intend to bridge the gap between the governed and governance through citizens’ engagement, enlightenment and awareness campaign to achieve the needed peace and development.
If you recall, we condemned in its totality the attack on INEC headquarters Enugu that was foiled. These incessant attacks targeting government establishments are myopic, barbaric and uncivilized. We view these incessant attacks on security men and institutions of government in the southeast as a monster that must be defeated by all, irrespective of party affiliation, if we must sleep with our eyes closed.
This is a pointer that the recent fire incident at INEC office in Udenu Local government was actually an attack and not electrical fault as reports had it. This is outright declaration of infrastructural war to underdeveloped southeast that has continued to cry for marginalization. We called on the security agencies to fish out those behind this odious act and bring them to book to serve as deterrent as we approach 2023 elections. We therefore urge the security agencies to be more proactive and to apply community based approach in intelligence gathering.
So, invariably, your organization will play major role in determining where the pendulum will swing to in Enugu State in 2023 gubernatorial election if the time table released by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not altered?
Yes, we will play a big role. The people must decide who govern them not few elites in Enugu State that will do that in 2023. The ESCSEG is fully prepared to ensure that the electorate plays a prominent role on who governs them at all levels of governance come 2023 in the state. Gone are the days when few elites in the name of stakeholders sat and decide the fate of millions of citizens of the state.
The citizens have been short-changed in the past elections through intimidation, inducement and imposition thereby reducing the citizens to the background.
We have inaugurated the INEC Continue Voters Registration Sensitization Committee. The essence of the committee is to ensure that all the eligible voters in the state avail themselves of opportunity to register to enable them vote in the future elections. I call on the political elites in the state to stop heating up the polity with unnecessary political maneuvering. They should channel all their efforts towards ensuring that all the eligible voters in the state get registered for massive participation in elections.
You contested for a seat in Enugu State House of Assembly in 2019 in the platform of SDP and lost. Will you abandon the good governance project to seek another political office if the need arises?
For now, I do not have any political interest in 2023. My main focus now as the Coordinator of ESCSEG is to see how we can change the political narrative of our state. The era of endorsement by few political elites must come to an end come 2023.
We want to see citizens deciding who represent them at all levels of government through transparent electoral processes. See; let me tell you, non-existence of opposition parties have deprived the people of Enugu State a lot. Viral opposition is healthy for democracy. We will engage the citizens of the state through enlightenment campaign to consciously distinguish capacity, antecedents and capability from party candidates.
Thank you
