Ex-SSG Oseloka Obaze says
Anambra deserves better
Oseloka H. Obaze, a consummate technocrat, former UN official and former secretary to
the Anambra State government under Governors Peter Obi and Willie Obiano, is
considered the most eminently qualified amongst governorship aspirants in the
forthcoming Anambra State elections. He
bears him mind in this interview with some Awka-based journalists.
Sir, you will
deliver the keynote address at the forthcoming Anambra
State Media Summit. Why were you chosen and should we expect any fireworks?
Obaze:I
don’t know why I was chosen, but I feel highly honoured. I know I will speak
truth to power.
A while back,
you said you were consulting with regard to which platform you are going to
pitch tent for the governorship election.
Party is a vehicle to actualize your ambition. It seems you are yet to
be associated with a party. Have you finally chosen any?
Obaze:It was not a matter of choosing. I knew all along, where I was headed. But I needed to consult widely and consolidate my support. Now that I have concluded my consultations I have publicly pronounced my platform. I am a PDP aspirant. However, two smaller parties have expressed keen interest in adopting me as their candidate, fully aware that I intend to run on the PDP platform. That is gratifying.
Recently, there was mass exodus of political gladiators in the state into APC, apparently because of their belief that any candidate emerging on that platform will be rigged into power to justify their control at the centre. Are you in any way worried that they may gathering to win by all means possible?
Obaze:
Your question is speculative. Politicians engage in platforms and
parties where they believe their interests are best catered for and their
chances of emerging victorious seem better. It has less to do with
ideology. The notion of rigging, though a reality in our body politics,
should not feature prominently or be accorded credibility. INEC must
consistently pass the litmus test of conducting elections that are
sufficiently transparent, credible, free and fair at every juncture.
From your
statement during a recent interview on Blaze FM, are you saying that the construction
of the three fly over bridges was a mere waste of money and do you have any
plans of altering it if you win?
Obaze: I
said that every government must determine its developmental priorities and that
funds expended for any project must be commensurate with the returns on
investment. In that context, I observed that the N15 billion reportedly spent
on the three Awka flyovers- the government insist that they cost only N8.5
billion- could be have been channeled to youth empowerment programmes, if that was
the priority. Moreover, that since the flyovers are not tolled and there
was no prior approval from the federal government for their construction, the
expended resources will never be recovered.
Time is
ticking and almost all aspirants are campaigning. The worry about you is that
people believe you don’t have money to execute your project. How do you react
to this? And given the capital intensive nature of politics in Nigeria, many
people are wondering where and how a man of your rather elitist background
would raise the funds to finance your election. What is your take on this
issue?
Obaze: It is
all a matter of perception versus reality. Campaign financing here has
certainly become an albatross for the qualified but-not-so-rich aspirants.
We intend to alter that mindset. Politicians with deep pockets tend
to seek to buy their way into office. However, when it's all over the people
suffer. This time the election and politicking will be issues and
candidate focused. We will appeal to the enlightened self-interest of the
people. We will use volunteers, whose real reward will come after victory, not
those who wish to cash in during campaign. I believe our people are
wiser. They will surprisingly be more introspective this time
around. Those who want good governance and development must find ways to
support the most eminently qualified candidates.
The in thing
among aspirants now is to gather some people who in turn claim they have
endorsed by such people. How do you react to such tactics? Your local
government and zone seem to have foreclosed your candidacy by endorsing Obiano,
what’s your fate?
Obaze:The
so-called Anambra North Peoples Assembly (ANPA) endorsement reflects the views
of less than 1,000 people who were consulted in the seven local government
areas of the North. As I see it, political endorsements are make-belief and
make-happy episodic events. Ironically, it is somewhat an elitist mindset that
does not always reflect the reality on the ground and at the grassroots where
the presence of government is not being felt and where the votes will be cast.
Moreover, endorsements are hardly public opinion polls that may have
veracity or some scientific validity. At the end, it is one-man-one-vote that
will count. And who is to say that these unceasing endorsements are not
financially induced?
Relatedly,
the former Central Bank Governor, Charles Soludo, has advised those of you
running for the guber election this year in Anambra to forgo your aspirations
because the incumbent has done well enough to secure a second term. Are you
impressed with Soludo's advice?
Obaze: I
have the highest personal and professional regards for Prof. Charles Soludo. I
also respect his right to profess his views freely in our nascent democracy.
Yet I have rendered my disagreement with him on this matter, both personally
and publicly. Let us say that we have agreed to disagree. My point,
which with the benefit of hindsight, I'm sure Prof. Soludo appreciates, is that
constitutionally there is a vacancy in the government house every four years.
Thus, whoever is the incumbent must subject him or herself to re-evaluation
and a re-election procedure. The outsiders will also seek to be elected
and to unseat the incumbent. The difference is that the incumbent will
run, presumablyon his good record and accomplishments. If the good
governance bona fides exist and are sufficiently credible, then reelection will
be assured. If they are found wanting, then the outsiders might have a
chance of pulling off an upset. That is the present reality in Anambra.
As a former
SSG what difference do you think you can bring into governance in Anambra state
if you are given the opportunity to serve as Governor?
Obaze:
First, by training and experience, I understand fully the role of leadership
and good governance in the delivery of services, unfettered developmentand
managing expectations. Good governance also rests on frugal management of
resources, operating within available resources and equitable distribution of such
resources via prioritization. Positive growth cannot be sustained without
strategic thinking, visionary planning and guided implementation of purposeful
policies that serve as the bedrock for effective programmes and projects.
Enduring prosperity is infinitely predicated on solid and enduring development
frameworks. I have written and spoken about pruning the cost of governance
and achieving more through joint interstate ventures, which our leaders seem
averse to. Above all, good governance is about transparency and
accountability. Where both are lacking and policies are opaque, leakages
and malfeasance are bound to occur. Likewise, disenfranchisement and political
dichotomy will ensue. These negative variables can be done away with easily, if
the leadership is focused and adaptive. That is what makes the difference.
The incumbent
Governor hails from the same senatorial zone with you. Why do you think it is
politically wise to contest against him?
Obaze: This
is beyond our personalities. The good of the greater society cannot be
subsumed in sentiments. Several others and I were in forefront of the campaign
to bring the governorship to the north senatorial zone. We had also
committed to advancing Anambra State in all its facets to greater heights,
based on the existing solid foundation, the resources and savings available and
the well laid out development trajectory that saw Anambra State as the top
state in attaining set benchmarks of the MDGs. At some point, we went off
the trajectory. This gave room for politicians from the south and central
contending that the leadership from the north has not met expectations, thus
the need to truncate the north's tenure. Our view from the north is that
we should be given the opportunity to complete our second tenure; however, if
our south and central counterparts insist on upending us and ousting the
incumbent, then we are obliged to enter the fray and offer credible
alternatives. As you know, Tony Nwoye, Chike Obidigbo, Alex Obiogbolu,
Ralph Eke and I are all from the north and are all in this race. We are
not involved for the sake of frivolity or recognition. I personally
believe that Anambra deserves better.
As an
insider, what is your assessment on the quantum of fire in direct investment
flow into Anambra which is put $4.3 billion and the agricultural output rice at
230 metric tonnes per annum, which the Anambra State government is bandying around?
Some have seriously questioned the veracity of such claims.
Obaze: I'm
no longer a government insider, but I remain a member of the attentive public.
I have been asked that question severally. Fundamentally, government must
be honest and transparent in its dealings and public claims. Of this I'm aware.
Trading Economics of Nigeria recently
reported that the actual foreign direct investment (FDI) that flowed into
Nigeria in 2014 and 2015 were US$4.69 billion and US$3.06billion respectively.
The projected figure for 2016 is US$3.12, based on figures available from the
first two quarters of 2016. So, if we accept that the Anambra State Government
attracted an estimated $4.2 billion in DFI in three years, it presupposes that
more than half of the FDI that entered into Nigeria during the past three year
are domiciled in Anambra. What of the other four viable states and the other 31
states? And where are these funds invested? As regards producing 230 metric tonnes of rice
per annum, what this equates to is more than 20 ship loads of rice per
annum. Expert estimates confirm that a
normal shipload of rice of 12,500 metric tonnes consists of 250,000 (50kg) bags.
One 30 ton trailer carries 600 bags of rice.
So you will need 416 trailers to move 12,500 metric tonnes of rice. Where is such a huge rice production being
warehoused? Those who are good in math will have to figure out how many
trailers you need to move 230 metric tonnes of rice and the number of silos
required to warehouse the production.
Ex-SSG Oseloka Obaze explodes, says Anambra deserves better than Obiano
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Monday, March 27, 2017
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