Dickson Okafor
Founder of Adadioramma Foundation, Mrs Nkolika Imoh, speaks on why she is backing Nicholas Ukachukwu for the Anambra South senatorial contest.
Why the sudden switch of support from Sen. Andy Uba who many know has been enjoying the support of your group to Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, his arch rival?
My decision to back Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu is all about Igbo interest and not for self-aggrandizement. Every political calculation right now is geared towards actualisation of Igbo Presidency in 2023 and to realise this vision, we in the South-East should support candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the forthcoming general election. So, based on this, the entire Adadiromma Foundation decided to support the candidacy of Ukachukwu for Anambra South Senatorial seat because the people have not felt the impact of Sen. Andy Uba’s representation. There is hunger and unemployment in the senatorial zone and like I have said at different fora, Andy Uba has done his best and someone else should continue from where he will stop in 2019. If you recall, Ukachukwu represented the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003. So, he is not a novice in act of lawmaking. He is successful in private practice, he is an employer of labour with a lot of investment in Anambra State and this experience is exactly what he is bringing to the table as a legislator.
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What do you make of the challenge of voter apathy in the South-East?
During the last general election, most people from the South-East of voting age were at the football field playing or at beer parlour while voting was going on and you hear them boast that former President Goodluck Jonathan had won. That will not be the case because this time around Nigerians are ready to make a statement with their PVCs in 2019. It is no longer what we used to witness. Today, awareness is so high through the advent of social media. With your phone, you can go round the world while sitting in your house because the world is now a global village. Whatever happens within few minutes, the people in Australia will read it. The question is, how can the people of South-East enjoy the dividends of democracy? It is for us to go and get our PVCs and ensure we cast our vote for all APGA candidates including Ukachukwu. He is tested and trusted and his track record speaks volume.
Are you saying your group in also backing all APGA candidates up to the Presidency?
You are absolutely correct. However, no man is an island. Yes, we decide to support Ukachukwu for Senate as one of the leaders of APGA in Anambra. To me, if any political party decide to enter into political alliance with APGA, that will be a welcome development. Igbo have been playing regional politics which has denied the zone its rightful place in governance. This is the time to play politics of national interest. If we have strong voices at the national and international levels our agitation of marginalisation won’t have been misunderstood by the Federal Government. A lot of youths are idle without jobs and you know that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. So, we shouldn’t blame the Federal Government alone, but we can equally put the blame at the doorstep of the state governments especially governors who to me should share greater blame for increasing rate of unemployment in the country. This army of unemployed youths must eat, pay bills and some of them have wives and children to take care of hence, this and other challenges are major problems Ukachukwu has an answer to if elected Senator.
What do you think is responsible for the alleged poor performance of the incumbent?
Lack of commitment to the yearning of the people and that is why Sen. Andy Uba could not deliver on his campaign promises. We need a self-made-man like Ukachukwu who will not be answerable to anyone, but the people of Anambra South.
A good wine requires no advertisement. So, what I’m trying to say is that we have been told lies for too long and now the people of Anambra South want change of representative in the Senate in 2019. How do we get the change? We must endeavor to vote Ukachukwu. Yes, he might have tried to become governor and Senator in the past without success, but I believe 2019 is his divine appointed time to serve our people because he will be a strong voice in the National assembly for Ndigbo, Anambra South and for Nigerians.