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New Page 27
Ndigbo should produce president in 2007
— Nkire
Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Abia
State, Chief Sam Nkire, who turned 50 recently, granted Correspondent, DAVID
AGBA, an interview recently, in which he spoke of the controversial rejection of
his ambassadorial nomination, government’s economic reform agenda and calls for
an Igbo to be president in 2007. Excerpts:
WHY was your nomination for an ambassadorial posting rejected by the Senate? Do you have any hard feelings
concerning the rejection of your nomination?
I would have preferred not to talk about
that. But let me just say that it might interest you to know that I am the only
ambassadorial nominee said to have an honorary doctorate degree award who is not
an ambassador today. You know it is not a crime to accept an honorary doctorate
degree and the one I have is not fake. This is all I can say on that matter. If
one does not become an ambassador today, he can become an ambassador tomorrow.
If God says one will be an ambassador, nobody can say he would not, especially
if he is qualified and has committed no crime.
Where do you stand on President Olusegun
Obasanjo’s reforms against the backdrop of criticisms against them?
I am glad that more Nigerians are
beginning to understand President Obasanjo. Before now, everywhere I went, I
faced opposition from all angles, especially if I spoke in favour of Obasanjo’s
policies. The opposition did not only come from avowed opponents of the PDP
government, but from known Peoples Democratic Party members also. Today, the
story is fast changing. More and more people are beginning to see reason why
corruption is bad; why there should be due process in contract awards; why the
downstream sector of the petroleum industry should be privatised, why officials
of government should not have ten official cars at the expense of the taxpayer
and why the blame for unemployment should not only go to the Federal Government
but to the states and local governments as well.
I am a strong believer in free market
economy and I have put my thoughts on paper on this. It is my conviction that
the Obasanjo administration is doing its best to midwife a precarious economic
pregnancy. If only Nigerians would stop criticising policies out of selfish
motives and start supporting policies that will on the long run impact
positively on the lives of the majority, only then would the government be
encouraged to do more.
What is your reading of the politics of
Abia State, given the crises that have rocked the state recently?
I was in a recent gathering where
President Obasanjo said he did not believe the old adage which says: "if you
want peace prepare for war." He said if you want peace prepare for peace and
work for peace and that peace will surely come.
The problem we have in our state is not
out of proportion when compared to the situation in many other states and I
believe it can be resolved permanently through dialogue and respect for
agreements. Abia State is popularly called God’s Own State. But
unfortunately many of us neither know nor fear God. Some others try to play God
and insist that their will must be done. I strongly believe that it is only what
God allows that comes to pass. If in 1999, all the business moguls and movers
and shakers of Abia were asked to choose a governor, I am sure Dr. Orji Uzor
Kalu wouldn’t have become governor. But God said he would be and he became
governor till date.
Also if in 2003 you asked the high and
mighty people in Abia State to give Nigeria a Senate President, I am sure Chief
Adolphus Wabara would not be Senate president today. But God said he would be
and nobody could change it. Once we realise that power belongs to God and that
it is only God that gives power, it is only then that we can be at peace with
one another. Those in power would then realise that God has chosen them to do
good to their people and not to oppress them, while the followers would respect
and obey them as having been approved by God.
What is your stand on the clamour for the
Igbo to produce the President in 2007?
It is said that: "What is good for the goose is good for
the gander." This country was started with three elder brothers — Hausa, Yoruba
and Igbo and other younger ones. Hausa has ruled the house, Yoruba is now ruling
the house. It is only just and fair that after the Yoruba, it should be the turn
of the Igbo before it goes to the younger brothers who no doubt have a right to
the throne. Igbo people are united on this and this is where I stand, to borrow
from a phrase made popular by the Senate president, Rt. Hon. Adolphus Wabara.
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