I’ll relocate gov’s office to Aba in first 2 years to develop the city – Udensi, PPA candidate

Chief Chikwe Udensi, a security consultant who hails from Arochukwu, Abia State, is the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), gubernatorial candidate in the February 2015 governorship election.

In this comprehensive interview in his country home, Atani, Arochukwu, the ebullient politician identifies the many challenges of Abia State and offers insight on how he intends to solve them if elected governor next year.  He also discusses what transpired between him and Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and expresses shock over rumour he describes as “wicked lie”against his person. 

Excerpts:

What are your plans for Abians if elected governor next year?

I have blueprint for Abians in all areas and sector, viz: health, education, infrastructure and social service. Infrastructure  is where Abia State is in dire need. I will, as a governor of Abia State, relocate my office to Aba for the first two years and declare Aba a disaster area. I will ensure that I supervise personally with other relevant agencies and ministries to ensure that Aba is cleaned up. Aba, right now, is in total mess and it requires enormous personal supervision by the governor himself, not just the commissioner for works or environment. It takes people’s governor to do this and that is what I Udensi represents. Aba is the commercial hub of the Igbo man, not just Abia State. I feel personally sad that Aba is in this mess. The Ariaria Market was built by my father; so we know the situation in Aba and what it used to be and what it is now. Under my watch as a governor, I will ensure that the infrastructure in Aba are put to a reasonable level.

How do you intend to achieve this unprecedented turn around you are promising?

I intend to go into partnership with foreign companies to achieve this. The situation right now, where local, unprepared, ill-equipped and inexperienced contactors are being used will not happen under my watch. I will use experienced and reputable international contractors to build Aba. That is why all the infrastructure the late Sam Mbakwe constructed are still strong, while the roads they are constructing now do not last more than six months or at most one year. Take a look at Milverton Road and few others constructed by local contractors under the Governor T. A. Orji administration, then you will understand what I am saying.

Let us take a cursory look at education sector because there lies the future of Abia State. What is your plan?

Education is the only thing that bridges the gap between the so-called poor and the rich in the society. It is the pivot on which most developmental activities revolve. I as a governor of Abia State will ensure qualitative, free education in Abia State. Not only that, our schools will be equipped with computers to enable our pupils compete with their contemporaries outside the state. It is achievable because we have the resources for it and we shall do it. Constitutionally, the local government ought to take care of primary schools while state takes care of the secondary schools. But because of the joint state account, state takes the whole money and ignores the development of both primary and secondary schools. What we have here is a state that makes over N10billion monthly through all the resources, with a wage bill of just about N1billion. The fact remains that we ought to have developed Abia, which presently is not happening.

What is your plan for the youths? 

Youth empowerment goes beyond given the people tricycle (Keke) or buses and cabs. I felt terribly sad when our graduates were turned to drivers and what have you, all in the name of youth empowerment. This shows lack of direction, vision and mission of this government. My concept of youth empowerment is to ensure the revamp of our moribund industries, like Golden Guinea, which has the capacity to employ thousands of our youths. The Aba textiles mill and glass industries are there and when they are revamped, a lot of graduates and youths will be gainfully employed and have a substantial living. But we have a visionless government and therefore, they have become the people’s problem.

But if the brewery you mentioned had been sold, will you partner with them or review the agreement?

Well, brewery business ought to be run by private organizations, not government. It is supposed to be private sector driven arrangement under PPP. Anyway, I do not know what the situation is at the moment, but if it has been sold to a private company, then something must be done urgently to ensure that they commence operation in other to help our youths get gainful employment. Look at what Peter Obi did with Premier beer. Today, that company produces Hero beer and Hero malt. It also has in its employment 150, 000 people mostly Anambra citizens. That is exactly what we want in Abia.

The road leading to your village, Arochukwu, is not accessible. What do you say?

There is no road to Arochukwu; so trying to say that it is not accessible is overstatement. What we have here are gullies and death traps. The problem of road is not peculiar to Arochukwu alone; go to other places and see that they are all the same. The day I went to Isiala Ngwa to visit my friend, Alex Otti, there was no road to his place; same goes to Senator Nkechi Nworgu and Emeka Wogu. It is very unfortunate that things turned out this way. The story by Abia government that Arochukwu road is a federal road, is absurd because a proactive government would have repaired the road and seek for re-imbursement from the Federal Government. A lot of states have done it and some are doing it. I don’t know why Abia State should be different. The idea of separating federal roads from state roads is ridiculous because government everywhere exists because of the people.

The rate of infant/maternal mortality is high in Abia State. How do you plan to reduce or eradicate it entirely?

I do not have the figures and I am also not well-informed as to the position, as we speak. However, everything in Abia State has a problem. If you check the report of National Planning Commission on health and infrastructure, Abia State came last. In fact, the man was being diplomatic by saying that Abia came first from behind. It is unfortunate that everything in Abia has problem, not only in health care. So if  we have very high infant/maternal mortality rate, it is as a result of the maladministration of the present government. And what we have to do is to change what is on ground and the only way to do it is to change the government.

What are your plans to improve agriculture in Abia State, knowing that majority depend on it for survival?

What we have in Abia State today is subsistence farming, where majority of farmers produce mainly for family consumption. What we should be talking in Abia State is scientific agriculture with the standard that the late Michael Okpara initiated many years ago, to have farm settlement. Every LGA has what they are known for. Before, Aba was involved in massive production of pineapple. I do not even know that it could happen here. What my government will do is to create an enabling environment for farmers, because farming is not for the government.

 What are your plans to ensure regular payment of civil servants salaries in Abia State?

If you consider the wage bill in Abia State, it is very minimal compare to the state income.  On the average, we were told for the past 48 months Abia State makes between N4.5billion to N5billion monthly basic money, not IGR. This amount does not include SURE-P, NNPC, VAT and other differentials. This money is enough to pay and take adequate care of workers every month. Only God knows where Abia State money is and why civil servants in Abia State are not paid. My administration will ensure that civil servants in Abia State are well taken care of and paid as and when due.

Tell us why you left APGA for PPA because rumours have it that you were planted their to hold forth for Alex Otti. How true is it?

I was shocked to my marrow when this story came out. That was a bloody and wicked lie, but however Otti has come to my house to apologise and I have accepted his apology. The first time I went to Otti to discuss about my political ambition, I was there with a very good friend of ours, Senator Ben Ndu. He is still alive; you can ask him. Otti encouraged me. He told me that he was in PDP but that he was in support of my ambition. When the next time I met Otti in his house and discussed my ambition also, the then Anambra governor, Peter Obi was there. I have never either by commission or omission discussed with Otti about his coming to APGA and he never indicated his intention to do that. If the arrangement ab nitio was for him to come to APGA where I was standing for him, why did he opt for PDP? The truth of the matter is that Alex Otti went behind me and arranged the kangaroo arrangement with APGA national chairman, Victor Umeh and the next thing I heard was that Otti was going to pick up APGA form. I have accepted his apology, like I said earlier, but the point is that if a man in that kind of level who I respects a lot can condescend to that level, then it leaves much to be desired.

I was willing to go into primaries with him, but I didn’t know that it had been with the removal of the chairman, Prince Ukaegbu, who was replaced with Otti’s man. The delegates were also changed to pave way for Otti’s emergence. So it became very clear that there will not be fair primaries and instead of me to stay and allow them do what they wanted to do, I left and joined PPA.

Surprisingly, after a month I left the party, they still conducted their primaries and included my name. They came out to say that I contested the primaries with Otti and lost. Otti later came to my house and apologised and later told newsmen that he defeated me in the primaries. Can you imagine that? One of the traditional rulers later told me that Otti said it was all about politics. But I maintained that politics should be played with morality.

We noticed that your posters and billboards are being destroyed in Aba. What is the reason and who are those behind this act?

You should know that PPA is a threat to the present government. You should also know that this government is desperate and its desperation has gone out of hand. When I became the candidate of PPA, they offered me all kinds of things to no avail. They are afraid of PPA more than any other political party in Abia State and it is leading them into violence. Anyway, the matter has been reported to appropriate law enforcement agencies and we are hoping they do something. But if nothing is done we will do everything within the ambit of the law to protect our property. Anybody who can destroy billboard  can equally destroy human life; that is why we have to ensure that it is stopped now.

Do you have enough security, considering what you have just highlighted?

Not at all; they have tried all kinds of things; they have severally sent people after us to attack us, but we are prepared to defend ourselves if the law enforcement agencies fail to do so. We are law abiding citizens and we are sure that the law enforcement agencies will do their jobs in ensuring the safety of lives and properties.

What are your chances of emerging victorious in the election?

Before now I never imagined the strength of PPA in grassroots. When I left APGA, I did so with my entire structures; so I am very optimistic. Abians should consider the experience of the individuals contesting elections today before casting their votes. In PDP, they should consider his experience in not being able to manage waste disposal unit in Aba. In APGA, they should consider the idea that the more deposits you bring the more you climb to be the highest position in the banking sector. Abians should consider the person who is capable of creating wealth, not someone who will keep it. I Chief Chikwe Udensi is the right candidate for Abians and I will surely put smiles in people’s faces again.