Political activities have started in ernest and parties are putting there houses in order ahead of 2027 elections. In this interview with The Razor,one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Anambra state, Chief Modestus Umenzekwe,bares his mind on the preparations by his party. The chances of opposition against President Bola Tinubu of APC and how far the APC leaders in Anambra had gone in making sure the party wins in 2027 Presidential election and more importantly,what awaits the African Democratic Congress ADC ahead of the elections
Excerpts…
2027 is almost here, Political activities have already begun , is there any hope for your party with pressure from the opposition?
First and foremost, I want to stress as usual, our national leader, President Bola Tinubu (GCFR) is seriously occupied with governance and enacting policies that will reposition this country for the better.
And in doing so, greater number of Nigerians are pleased with him and it has resulted to calls from various quarters to seek for re-election in 2027. At no material time has he made any statement on his interest to seek re-election in 2027, but we Nigerians have come out to say that he must seek for re-election as far as there is life.
Narrowing it down to your question, the most formidable party in Africa which is our All Progressives Congress, APC, he is strategizing and responding to the calls by Nigerians for the re-election of Mr President. Suffice it to say, that we are getting ready in as much as 2027 is still far.
But Igbo people where you come from are still looking for change, what is your opinion on this?
Yes, I am an Igbo man and a proud one at that. Their desire for change is normal in any political situation more especially, where the Igbo are talking about the three Rs, pronounced after the civil war, Reconstruction, Reconciliation and Rehabilitation and that is why I feel President Tinubu established Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) as well as giving one of our illustrious sons
Engr. Dave Umahi, the chance to man the works Ministry, the first of its kind in history and we thank the President for that Magnanimity. And since all the Igbo are not in the same political party, those of us in other political parties have the right to contest for the office of the president, so there is nothing bad in such ambition and it will not stop us from voting the candidate of our party during the election.
So, what is the fate of your brothers in ADC?
I am not talking about my brothers in ADC, I’m talking about ADC as a group. Some people might call it a miscalculation on my own part, but I’m not seeing ADC as a platform for breaking even. It is unfortunate that the major opposition in PDP, has almost fused into APC. That was the only platform that could have given APC a run for its money. When you look at the array of politicians in ADC, I began to wonder what magic they will do in the forthcoming election to carry the day. Greater number of them has served this country in one capacity or the other without rescuing the country which they seek to rescue now. However, I‘m for seeing implosion within the ADC as almost all the leaders are aspiring to get the presidential ticket, it is unfortunate.
Some political observers say that president Tinubu will have a problem during the election despite having about 30 governors in APC, how true is this?
That statement is figment of imagination of people in a fishing expedition without the net. It does not hold water. If president Bola Ahmed Tinubu was out of power for 16 good years and never bothered to contest for any elective post and later on decided to enter the ring in 2023 and won, don’t you see him as a beautiful pride in 2027 – which every groom will go for? Nobody wants to be where he or she wants to fail, so that observation is dead on arrival and mind you, it is the thinking of the opposition not the ruling party. No serious minded politician will think negatively about a performing leader, who has come to right the wrongs in the country.
The former Governor of Lagos state and former Minister of Works, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has been quite for some time, he is your boss, what’s going on?
I don’t know why people keep asking me about Fashola repeatedly. This is a man that rose from his legal chambers to become the Chief of Staff to then Governor of Lagos State, who is now our president, from there, he became the hero of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for 8 years as power and works minister in the first phase, then, minister of works and Housing in the second phase. But before becoming a minister, he was the Governor of a Mini-Nigeria State- Lagos for 8 years. He was also engaged in extra -curricular political activities during those periods, so with all these, don’t you feel he needs a rest? However, everybody in Nigeria knows him as not being a talkative like some politicians, he is a man of integrity and commands respect. Therefore he takes time to do things in a very quiet manner. He is still in politics.
The Progressives Mantra between your Party and APGA in Anambra State, how effective is it?
One thing you should know is that politics is different from being enemies. We are all friends with different personal interests. Our leaders in Anambra State are meticulously handling that progressives Mantra in making sure that President Tinubu emerges victorious in 2027 if he throw his hat into the ring. We have leaders in APC who are working day and might in making, sure that APC remains united in Anambra . Leaders like the new state chairman of the party in the state, Senator Emma Anosike, his deputy,Hon JC Okeke, madam project,Senator Uche Ekwunife ,deputy national organising secretary of APC, Nze Chidi Duru, not forgetting the former Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Basil Ejidike and of course, the leader of the party in Anambra State, Prince Dr Nicholas Ukachukwu, to mention but a few.
These people have shown tremendous capacity, investing their resources, time and energy to keep APC strongly afloat in Anambra State. The major task for all of us, including the other leaders not mentioned ,is to deliver Anambra State to APC in 2027 Presidential election, which has never happened before in the history of the party. So all hands are on deck in realizing this project.
It seems the intervention of president Tinubu has doused tension in Rivers State between Governor Fubara and the Minister, Nyesom Wike, is it not a plus for APC despite both being in different parties?
Let me thank Mr President for his wisdom and steps he took to make sure there is peace in Rivers State.
Let me also thank the FCT Minister, Mr Project, Nyesom Wike and his political son, Governor Siminilaye Fubara for heeding to the advice of president Tinubu to close ranks to move Rivers State forward and by extention, Nigeria.
Forward. It is a boast to our political advancement, Irrespective of their political inclinations. At least, the results of the just concluded local government election in Rivers State and the Area Council election, in the FCT, Abuja have authenticated this where the father and son played very big roles to make sure that APC won in those elections handsomely, who says that president Tinubu is not a political deity? He is so accommodating irrespective of your political inclination and this his political maestro has posed a big question mark to health status of other political parties. I congratulate Governors Fubara and Wike for their understanding and maturity in the saga.
Is Nigeria really turning into a one party state, with APC controlling 30 Governors and still counting?
APC maintains an open door policy, they are so accommodating without any form of discrimination. Recall at the beginning of this interview, I said nobody wants to be a failure and that President Tinubu is a beautiful bride every groom is hunting for because he is using the instrumentality of his party, APC to reposition this country for good where every section of this country will have sense of belonging and dividends of democracy reaches to the door steps of the common man. This is a president that makes sure no Governor is starved of funds no matter your party and local government Autonomy has come to stay. Today, he has directed the national Assembly to alter the constitution in order to accommodate the state police. This is a man that had the courage without minding about first or second term to take hard decisions by removing the fuel subsidy which had held this country down for the past 30 years, this is a man who has stabilized forex among other things including working in partnership with the United States of America to dismantle the issue of terrorism in the Northern part of Nigeria.
So, with all these, nobody is talking about one party state, rather, what benefits the country. If it is the decision of all the Governors to empty their cabinets into APC, nobody has the right to stop them because it is their believe and they are welcomed. What is holding some of the political leaders in other parties is just pride and they are aware they cannot match Tinubu if he decides to re contest.
Why are some members of your party accusing Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma of causing confusion in Anambra APC?
I don’t think any right thinking person will say that. Onwa Imo is a good politician and deserves respect. He has done a lot for APC and the reason, Mr President does not joke with him. What Uzodinma dislikes is people cheating others. But I wonder why the so called people are particular about Anambra. He is the leader of APC in Southeast and also,leads the governors. His responsibilities are enormous. His major headache in the Southeast, not only in Anambra state,is to deliver the Presidential candidate of APC in 2027
