Immediate past National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the governorship candidate in Imo state, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, in an interview with some journalists in Abuja, promises to bring back the lost glory of the state. EMEKA NZE reports
Excerpts:
My tenure in the Senate
I did not go to House of Reps because I believe in equity, so, I opted to go to Senate. When I ran for Senate, I had many rich men to contend with. When I won the Senate seat was when I came to Abuja the first time because I was a local politician. I was the first senator, as a first timer, to be given chairmanship of a committee, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. Before me, the chairmen in the 6th and 7th Senate received only 60 petitions, attempted 24 and concluded only 6 within 8 years.
When I came, within that 4 years under review, 412 petitions were sent to my committee and I attempted 386 and concluded 324, without a dissenting voice out of 108 other senators. The committee raised so many hopes and lives in Nigeria. It helped me to fight for the Igbos. Through the committee also, I made sure with the help of Senator Ike Ekweremadu that Innoson Motos was not displaced. My job is to fight for Igbos, that was why I singlehandedly sponsored the South East Development Commission Bill. Unfortunately, it was not assented to by President Buhari before the tenure elapsed. Also sponsored was the Customs Act amendment. At Senate, I made my mark, came out as a successful senator. There was no dull moment in the senate.
My dream for Imo
My interest, having served as two time LGA Chairman, two-time House of Assembly member and Senator, I understand the pains of Imolites in every nook and cranny of Imo state. My aim is to bring back Imo state to its past glory. You know the perception Imo state; Imo is gradually becoming Boko Haram state. I believe that men of goodwill should rise up to say enough is enough.
Health sector
The last time a medical doctor was employed in Imo state was in 2019 and because of ‘Japa’, looking for greener pasture, Imo now have only 23 medical doctors in Imo state. Imo has only 150 doctors.
Health sector
LG election
I am from LGA stock, it pains me that LGA election has not taken place in Imo in the last three to four years. Having passed through that process, it will gladden my heart to see them have autonomy.
If voted into office, I will conduct LGA election in first 6 months.
I voted for autonomy of LGA as a member of state assembly and will monitor them. I promise to ensure full autonomy for LGAs if elected and to conduct LGA election in six months if elected.
N207bn Imo debt
Imo state is indebted to tune of N207bn and number 8th most indebted state in Nigeria. When elected as a governor, If I become governor, depending on who I will appoint the Commissioner for Finance, who understands the situation of the state, we will make sure the debt of Imo is reduced. I will use my contacts to reduce the debt of Imo if it means that I will weep, I will weep like Mbakwe.
On whether insecurity in Imo is politically motivated
Every leader must learn to be upright. The governor has been throwing accusations to different politicians in Imo. The problem of insecurity in Imo, if it is politically motivated, then it is caused by those in power. For me, it is motivated by joblessness.
If we give them jobs and food, there will be no insecurity again.
Education
I will declare emergency on education. The teachers have been so demoralised and when elected, he would motivate teachers, make sure every teacher have a license , train and retrain them in tune with modern teaching technology.
I want you to partner with me to bring Imo out of this dungeon. We used to have teachers training g institutes but they are no more there. The level of our education has gone low. I will give licence to teachers. With that, they will like to retain that though renewal.
I will declare emergency in education sector and train all Imo teachers and retrain them.
I can guarantee that all our secondary schools are renovated.
I have plan to build satellite towns of government in all the three zones. It’s part of our manifesto.
I will not rig this election, I want Imo people to vote their conscience, Lett every vote count because I am going to resist any attempt to rig the November election in Imo. I am ready for free and fair election, if I contest and lose, I will take it and go home but I will resist every attempt to use thugs to cart away results. I urge INEC to use this opportunity to redeem itself and to security agencies to help Imo recover from this ugly situation we are in now.
I’m not a placeholder as speculated
People said I wanted go be a placeholder for someone, I can’t be a placeholder for as colleague of mine in the Senate. Somebody I dwarfed in the senate. Among all the candidates, I understand Imo better because all those who have ruled Imo from 1999 did not lived in Imo. I am not a placeholder to anybody. I only took my time to make my intention known.
How to stop court from upturning his victory?
That is what we are doing now at the tribunal. Imo is a PDP state.
With what is going on now, Imo people want PDP back, the APC government we have now is an aberration. Imo people never voted APC. It was Supreme court that voted for APC. This is the first time APC is going to contest for Governorship election in Imo.
I know that when I win and I know I. Will win, supreme court will not take it from me.
LGA Autonomy
Having passed through that process, It will gladden my heart to see LGs have autonomy.
If voted into office, I will conduct LGA election in first six months.
I voted for autonomy of LGA as a member of state assembly and will monitor them.
On insecurity
Insecurity is rife in Imo state because the youths are not engaged. When people are properly situated they will not tale to crime.
There is no job opportunities in the state, skill acquisitive centres are no more there. But if we create the opportunity, insecurity will be a thing of the past. Before now, people used to troop in from all over the country to enjoy life in Imo, that is why we have so many hotels in Imo. When given the opportunity, I will give the young people opportunity to work and insecurity will be a thing of the past, except those who were born criminals.
Who will get amnesty?
Crime is crime, whether it’s gunmen or unknown gunmen. They are not spirits. Working with security agencies, security intels, we are going to address insecurity in Imo. That was how Yar’ Adua did it in Niger Delta, not by bombing them, firing them. We will make sure that every aspect of the society, churches, traditional rulers, succeeds. When you keep using cane to flog your son, one day, he will no longer be afraid of the cane, we will use diplomacy to achieve peace.
On Wike’s Appointment in APC government
This is politics. During Obasanjo and Jonathan’s regimes, different people were appointed from other parties. I understand the Tinubu government wants to run an inclusive government.
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