Mr Jerry Obike Ogbonna is a retired navy captain and a senatorial aspirant in next year’s general elections. In 2010 senatorial election in Abia State, he sought to unseat his politi­cal rival, Senator Uche Chukwumeri­je. However, he lost due to politi­cal manoeuvrings of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. He is currently gunning for the same position in Abia North senatorial district under a coalition of differ­ent political parties in the state. He thinks that the incumbent senator must be given an honourable exit and retirement from public life.
In this interview, he speaks on a wide range of issues. Excerpts:
What is your take on Confab report?
A lot of Nigerians believe in the need for the national conference to fashion-out ways for the peaceful co-existence in our country. Some of the resolutions at the conference were laudable. But the major issue is imple­mentation of the resolutions. That is why we are calling on Nigerians to allow Presi­dent Goodluck Jonathan to go for another term of four years to enable him implement those laudable resolutions. Nigerians should not allow the Confab report to go unimple­mented like other ones in the past. It is not an easy task to assemble the calibre of eminent Nigerians that attended the confer­ence. Federal government has spent a lot of money to convoke the conference and so the convener should be given the chance to implement the resolutions.
We should de-emphasise where the president comes from. Whether it is Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo or any other tribe, it is ir­relevant; what matters is good governance. Let us challenge Jonathan by giving him the chance to implement those resolutions. I am not campaigning for him, I am not a sy­cophant, and people who know me will tell you I am independent-minded, but I believe he deserves another term to consolidate his achievements.
Do you think this crop of National Assembly members will support the implementation of the resolutions?
The truth is that we might not get the same crop of National Assembly members in the next political dispensation. History has shown that at the end of every general election, only about 20 per cent of members of the Assembly will have the opportunity to return. The only way we can ensure good representations, is by allowing one man, one vote, so that people will directly elect their representatives, instead of imposing candidates on them. We should understand the enormous contributions of distinguished members of the Confab and those resolu­tions from the conference should not be frustrated by members of the Assembly. What we need in this country are members of the Assembly that will be independent-minded with robust ideas and debates. The truth is that since it was President Jonathan that convoked the national conference, we should allow him to implement those resolutions. Since it is remaining few months to the next general election, this present Assembly members might not make much impact in the implementation of the report. It is remaining only six months to end this political dispensation; so, there is really nothing this National Assembly can do before their tenure ends. I think that what we can do now is to try and get the White paper from the report ready, articulate issues there-in ahead of its full implementations. I actually think that this set of Assembly will not implement the resolutions before the end of its tenure. So, let’s cool-off and re-elect the president to implement those resolutions. If we try to change the leadership for the sake of it, then we will definitely lose the good intentions of the Confab.
What is your position on creation of more states?
My position on this are two folds-senti­mental and economic. On the sentimental part, the South East region is feeling short-changed because they have only five states while other regions have more than five. There is no reason for this imbalance. To ensure equity among regions, the south East should be given more states to be at par with other regions. On the economic part, I think multiplicity of states at the moment is not the best way to make people feel na­tionalistic. Some states might not be viable after creation. So, let’s balance the state cre­ations among the regions and create additional states later. That is my take on this.
Jonathan has promised to complete the 2^ndNi­ger bridge before he lives office;, Is this a myth or reality?
President Jonathan’s move is a good step in the right direction. It is a welcome devel­opment. Mind you, it is the only bridge that links south East to other parts of the coun­try. It also poses serious security challenge to the nation. When I was travelling to the East recently, I drove myself and we spent over 4 hours crossing the bridge. It occurred to me that if somebody throws a bomb on the bridge, everybody will perish. There is no other escape route. It is very bad. It is an important bridge that links South East to other parts of the country. It is not only for the Ibos or any other tribe, but an impor­tant link with other parts of the country. It is a link to Benue, to Akwa Ibom, Rivers among other areas. So, I think, it is a major link to other parts of the country. If the President means well, he should start and complete the bridge before he leaves power in 2019.

‘Jonathan should implement Confab resolutions’