A Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party in Enugu State and a former two-term member of the House of Representatives Dr. KGB Oguakwa, while assuring Dr. Peter Mbah of the almost total support from Inyi Town and the rest of Mmam-River Development Area during the latter’s Town Hall Meeting there, admonished the incoming Government to strive towards upholding the equity of Wards while shunning the often typical aggregational injustice in dispensing dividends of democracy.
In an interview on the sidelines of the ongoing Town Hall at Mmam-River Development Area, Oji-River L.G.A, after making his public presentation of issues to Mbah, KGB Oguakwa elucidated on aspects of his extempore address.
Q:The Candidate Peter Mbah listened to your presentation with rapt attention. What exactly did you say, sir?
A: It will be difficult to recapture everything that I said but essentially, I tried first, to bring to his incoming Excellency’s attention, certain dialectical issues relating to the peculiarities of the political characteristics and composition of Mmam-River Development Area. That was the point at which I suggested that care must always be taken to ensure the “equity of Wards rather than aggregational injustice of Community” in the dispensation of post-election Government patronage.
Q: What do you mean, sir.
A: Like I did carefully explain during my presentation to him just now, Mmam-River has a peculiar political composition. It is predominantly an Inyi Town affair. We are comprised of 6 INEC Wards out of which 4 are Inyi 1, Inyi 2, Inyi 3 and Inyi Ward 4. We then also have two smaller communities, Awlaw Ward and Akpugoeze Ward. You know that political patronage is repayment for work already done in the electoral fields. So, political appointments and development projects must, in a democracy, reflect, more often than not, the appreciation for the efforts expended by supporters of the Party which wins like the PDP which will definitely win as usual. Partisan politics in this clime ultimately distills down to the electoral jostling at the INEC Ward levels where the polling booths within each Ward are the fields of politics-play, and where each of us plies our tradecraft, if you like. After elections are won therefore, in the peculiar composition of Mmam River, it is aggregational injustice to dispense patronage on Community basis (to Inyi, to Awlaw, and to Akpugoeze). With especial regard to our peculiarity, democratic dividends can only be fairly distributed through a policy that is focused on an Equity of Wards patronage basis ( Inyi Ward 1, then Inyi Ward 2, then Inyi Ward 3 and then Inyi Ward 4. After these then Awlaw Ward, then Akpugoeze Ward). It is this representational criteria that achieves equity because the political fights by the masses are fought in their respective Wards. It is actually subtle deprivation to repay them in any inequitable manner such as under a criteria which aggregates them into merged groups and which therefore twist the benefits from their ward-level toils, out of shape. Put rather simply, pay Peter for Peter’s work. Don’t pay Peter’s father for work which Peter has done for you. I hope the practical precepts are clearer?
Q: Sir, what makes you confident that Mmam-River will qualify for Patronage?
A: Since the dawn of this 4th Republic in 1998, Inyi Town has invested almost one hundred percent in PDP. We are a very loyal people. We are not pretentious. Mine is but a tiny personal example of the steadfast chip in the old block of my people. Just look at the thickness in turnout of those four canopies to your left. Those are Inyi Wards 1, 2, 3, and Inyi Ward 4. The other 2 canopies to the right are Awlaw and Akpugoeze. Observe also the heavy supportive presence of political and community stakeholders from Inyi, Achi, Awlaw, Ugwuoba, and Akpugoeze Communities of Oji-River L.G.A. including Government Appointees here. If Inyi and the other two communities have come out to welcome Dr. Peter Mbah and left their market stalls on this locally vital economic Nkwo-Inyi Market day, it is because they have decided to vote for PDP again as usual. So, we will qualify for the patronage and dividends of his incoming government. I have no doubt.
Q: You are known for loyalty and for standing fanatically behind your words…(cuts in):
A: Yes. That is correct. However this your interview is not about me. Let’s please stay focused on the urgent necessities in the contemporary development of Mmam-River.
Q: You didn’t let me land, sir. My question is if you support Peter Mbah like you supported your ally Chimaroke?
A: First of all, I always insist that we accord due respect to proper protocols. His proper designation is His Excellency, Senator Doctor Chimaroke Nnamani, the former two-term Governor of Enugu State, please. Yes, my boss and mentor and elder lifelong friend. Remember that, amongst other invaluable acts of kindness, it was he who created Mmam-River and specifically designated Umuoha-Umuome as its headquarters by Government Gazette. I support Dr. Peter Mbah in absolute terms. The word “support” by its very nature is infinite. While it may, perhaps, be in the nature of your everyday politician to quibble, I will not apologize for being unpretentiously absolute. My creed is that a man who does not stand by his word does not, in fact, exist. Dr. Peter Mbah is already Governor. We have God’s promise on that.
Q: Yes, thank you, sir. You mentioned a Minister…(cuts in):
A: Yes, I did. You know how some politicians take liberties to rewrite or trample upon history in order perhaps to give themselves rosier positions in political evolution. So, it was necessary to present the actual political beginnings of the PDP in Oji-River which must be fully credited to the late Honourable Minister of State for Health, one time National Commissioner at the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), Chief Silas Arinze Ilo of blessed memory. It is to his credit that PDP took root in Oji-River and our Party stayed alive to later assimilate other gladiators and provide today’s platform for us all. I am a proud participant in that Y1998 history. So, figuratively speaking, PDP Oji-River began in Umuome village, Inyi town, Oji-River LGA – the man who paid the piper and dictated those tunes was Hon Minister Silas Ilo.
Q: Quite clear, sir. Did I mishear you? You appeared to have disapproved of something. (Cuts in).
A: Disapproved of something? Me? How dare I. No, nothing like that. I believe that you are referring to when I did say that the penchant for flamboyance in many a politician prevents the recognition that this novel Town-hall style introduced by Dr. Peter Mbah is not actually a pomp and pageantry “keep-talking-to-ourselves” rally, but rather, an engagement or direct interface with target communities. Which was why I did a reset and tried to switch the event back to its developmental dialogue focus.
Q: Oh, ok, now understood sir. Can you recap on the development issues which you presented to His Excellency?
A: I presented issues in four main sectors; in the sector of conducive economic environment to engender rapid self employment and SME currently thriving in Nkwo Inyi Market and its immediate commercial environs, I requested for the designation as a Special Economic Zone. This classification by ENSG will attract target funding from both private sector and development partners and produce an economic boom effect with salutary multiplier effect. I also requested for the construction of a Station for the State Fire Service to additionally safeguard the major economic contributions which the Nkwo-Inyi Market and its mini economic sub zone make to the economy of Enugu State. Regarding our problematic security issues accentuated by Mmam-River sharing borders with 2 States with 3 link inter-State roads, two into Anambra and one into Abia States. I requested for an improvement in the security architecture in order to stem the foray of criminal gangs into our State. Recall that, most recently, we were shocked out of relative complacency by the brutal daylight murder of two eminent brothers, one of whom was a political iroko, former Commissioner and former Local Government Chairman of Oji-River, Late Ozo Honourable Gab Onuzulike – may their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace, amen. In the areas of Agriculture, Education and community interconnectivity, I made an impassioned plea for the Construction of the road that links the Enugu-Porthacourt Road to the Enugu-Onitsha Road, which will commence at Enugu Akwu Achi, and pass through Umuome Inyi, Obune Inyi, Nkwere Inyi and Ugwuoba. The verve which agriculture will gain from such a cross communities road needs no emphasis. I also requested for the site of the disused Teachers Training College at Akpugoeze and the large adjoining farmlands to be converted to an Enugu State College of Agriculture or even a State University of Agriculture.
Q: You mentioned Babangida in your presentation to the incoming Governor?
A: Oh, yes. In the specific area of Tourism, I did point out that Inyi has historically been recognized as having one of the best deposits of clay soil for making smooth and beautiful pottery. Indeed as far back as 1986 President Babangida’s federal government established a Pottery Cottage Industry in Umuome Inyi near the present site of Mmam Development Area Headquarters buildings. This was followed by their establishment, in 2010, of an FGN Cottage Industry for Pottery, Wood and Raffia Crafts in Umuome Inyi, which Center, amongst other things, is home to a permanent exhibition gallery with over 200 arts and crafts pieces showcased in there. Yes, right here in this same village in which we are holding today’s Town Hall Meeting. So I urged our august visitor today to please consider designating Inyi as a Special Zone for the development and commercialization of the indigenous knowledge (I.K.) skills as is done around the world . This will reflate the local economy, engender skills development and transfer, impact on youth unemployment, help stem rural urban migration and provide additional income to our State’s IGR.
Q: Wow, Sir, you are clearly more than what we see?
A: Ha, I do not know what it is that you see. Just know say, no be rat chop me remain as I small so ( laughs heartily)…I am only excited by the clear intellectual depth and impatience with tomfoolery which are apparent in the soft personality and engaging mien of our Governorship Candidate. Dr. Peter Mbah’s attention to detail, the acuity of his vision and his verifiable can-do spirit encourages the belief that perhaps, indeed, for our dear Enugu State, Tomorrow Is Here.
Q: Do you think that these series of Town Halls have been successful?
A: A refreshing success so far. I have attended most of them through the various Senatorial Districts and noticed the enthusiasm of ordinary folks about Dr. Peter Mbah and his uniquely value-adding and innovative new style. With regards to the Oji-River LGA series specifically, today’s being the last one, I am very happy to observe that even major stakeholders who had hitherto been excluded from decision-making by Oji’s current leadership, appear enthusiastically reunited and fused back-in by the promise which Dr. Peter Mbah’s unpretentious, inclusive solidarity, and imminent fresh governance style offers. See them all seated here and applauding Dr. Peter Mbah with genuine love, palpable admiration and expectation. Believe me when I say that, with elections-tested operatives like Commissioner Hon. Manfred Nzekwe, State Party Secretary Chief Cletus Akalusi, Door-To-Door Campaign Queen Chief Mrs. Odibeze Amaka Anajemba, Foundation Chairman Honourable Ernest Nweze, ex-ENGH Chief of Staff Mrs. Sylvia Onwubuemeli, mni, Ex-Mayor Hon. Harrimax Okeke, Ex-Mayor Hon. Livi Nnolum, Oji-River LGA 2023 Elections Coordinator Hon. Blunker Onyemaechi and many, many others, blended into synergistic cohesion by our generalissimo, Senator Dr. Hyde Onuaguluchi, the Oji-River electoral machine is poised to deliver on its promises, and give victory to the Peoples Democratic Party in the imminent 2023 General Elections.
Thank you sir for this interview!
A: Thank you too. To God Be The Glory. God Above All.
Q: Ebeano?
A: That came from your mouth o, not mine (laughs heartily).
