2015: Jonathan’s second term, in Nigerians’ interest –Longers Anyanwu

2015: Jonathan’s second term, in Nigerians’ interest –Longers Anyanwu

Chief Longers Anyanwu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and former Commissioner for Agriculture and National Resources is currently the Imo state Chairman of Sure-P. In this interview with Daily Sun, the Obowo-born politician joins in the call on President Goodluck Jonathan to run for re-election in 2015 in the collective interest of Nigerians. Anyanwu also speaks on other national and state issues. Excerpt.

How would you describe your tenure so far?

On assumption, we met the problem of delayed payments and short-changing of beneficiaries but today, that is a thing of the past. Today, Sure-P beneficiaries in Imo state are very happy and proud to identify openly in support of the Federal Government and the transformation agenda of President Jonathan. We have brought in a lot of ideas that have popularized the Sure-P programme in the state. Unlike before, Imo people now know a lot about Sure-P and what it is meant to do in their lives.

What are your current challenges?

With the number of unemployed youths in the system, the expectation is very high. Everybody wants to get something from Sure-P. Some people don’t even understand the limitations of the programme. Some people think that Sure-P will give contracts. Some people think  that Sure P will employ everybody. But it is not so. Our focus is on community services, women and youths empowerment. But we are reviewing the system to see if we can accommodate more beneficiaries and based on our request, the President has already promised to do so as soon as the budget is passed. We are working closely with the leadership of the National Assembly as well as the local governments especially as the latter has to ensure that the beneficiaries are properly identified. So, the challenges are being tackled but we shall not rest on our oars. In the mean time, we shall continue to make do with what is on ground.

What is your advice to SURE-P beneficiaries?

My advice is that they should see Sure-P as a programme that will outlive the present administration and go ahead to transform the lives of the generality of Nigerians in a very significant way. In other words, they should work hard in order to ensure that the programme survives and achieves the desired benefits so that more beneficiaries, which may include their own family members and relations, can emerge in the future.  The 3,500 empowered Sure-P beneficiaries are 3,500 potential kidnappers who have been taken off the streets. Sure-P has the potentials of drastically reducing the number of youths that go into crime. So it is a programme which both current and future beneficiaries should support by putting in their best in any assignment they are involved in. In states where there is synergy, everything is collapsed into one basket and the impact is felt more. Agreed that the state government has the power to utilize the funds as it deems fit, there is need for transparency and accountability. And I can assure you that there is zero tolerance for diverting Sure-P funds under any guise.

What chances does the PDP have in getting back power in Imo state?

Imo state is a PDP state. The government in place came by accident. So, at anytime PDP resolves and decides, they will recover Imo state and the time is now because PDP is now determined to recover Imo State. And everybody knows it. With what happened when the President visited Imo, the entire Imo political leaders emptied into PDP. All the opinion leaders in Imo state are all back. It is only some foreign elements that are in APC in Imo State. But Imo state cannot be colonized at this 21st century. It is not possible.  I can tell you that the remaining elements are fighting to return to PDP. The current administration came up as the result of a breakdown of elite consensus. But as one of our former governors, Chief Achike Udenwa, puts it, never again will the political accident happen. However, I must state that our party leaders and members must strive to put the interest of the entire state above personal interest. That is the only way we can avoid the type of accident that occurred in 2011.

What is the position of PDP on the Imo Charter of Equity?

Until 2011, Imo was programmed to work effortlessly. In 1979, Dr Sam Mbakwe was elected governor of the old Imo State. In 1983, he won his re-election but by December 1983, the military took over. When democracy re-emerged after long military rule, Chief Evan Enwerem took over and there was another military interruption. In 1999, the great Imo leaders came together and resolved that Orlu zone should be allowed to produce the governor and that saw the emergence of Chief Achike Udenwa. Chief Udenwa emerged at the time all the power brokers were from outside Orlu zone. It was in the hands of Owerri zone and Okigwe zone, as far as the PDP was concerned, to determine where the governor would come from. These are historical facts. I was a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party. But after the 2006 primaries, the party ran into troubled waters. The fellow from Okigwe zone who won the primaries was not allowed to proceed because of problems not created by him or anybody from that zone. However, the fortune latter fell on Engr. Charles Ugwuh, also from Okigwe zone but the ticket died on arrival. Some elements from Orlu zone wanted to subvert the spirit of the agreement and wanted to transfer the candidacy to Owerri zone through Martin Agbaso. But Imo stakeholders said no, that it will amount to destruction and institutionalization of violence and distrust. So, they went back to Okigwe zone and PDP threw its weight behind the candidate of an entirely different party and Okigwe zone got the governorship in 2007. Again in 2011, PDP in the interest of charter of equity gave Okigwe zone a chance for a second term but we lost it. So, we must insist on fair play and equity. If not for justice and equity, Okigwe zone with her six local government areas couldn’t have produced Dr Ikedi Ohakim. And it will amount to sowing the seed of perpetual discord, distrust and violence if we distort the process of political flow in the state. I am not saying that political contraption is not possible again because we have seen that anybody from nowhere can emerge as governor as Okorocha did. But I know that can only happen if the PDP decides to gamble again and my prayer is that God will never allow it to happen.

You are one the strong advocates of President Jonathan’s re-election in 2015 but given the current state of affairs in the country, what chances do you think he has if he runs?

I agree that the challenges are there but President Jonathan has to run for re-election for the interest of Nigeria as a whole. For so many reasons, Dr Jonathan should be encouraged to run again in 2015. His transformation agenda is very much on course. He made promises and he has kept the promises. He has all it takes. Even his temperament. People take him for granted because of his cool mien and comportment. Even the opposition knows that they have no candidate that can match President Jonathan. If you talk about infrastructure, for 40 years, no train moved in Nigeria, today, train moves from Lagos to Kano and other cities. Very soon, Abuja railways will be commissioned. Our healthcare system has greatly improved. Ringworm has been eradicated completely in Nigeria, forever. Polio is almost nearing total eradication. Look at the changes going on in the aviation sector. Look at the new-look airports all over the country. President Jonathan believes strongly in the rule of law. You cannot compare him with some state governors in obeying court orders, rulings and injunctions. Jonathan is the president that allows his traducers to express themselves freely even to the extent of saying openly that they will make the country ungovernable for him.

For me, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is a representation of a new Nigeria. Jonathan’s second term will be the only thing that will cement the unity of the country and democracy in Nigeria. We must get it done properly or we may lose this country. If President Jonathan is cajoled or threatened out of office, it will not augur well for the country. APC with its interim party structure has no programme after 2015 election. Few months to election, it has no manifesto. Few months to election, it has no party structure.

APC is a party owned by few individuals that want to take over Nigeria and that is not what we want. We cannot mortgage Nigeria to political investors. Awolowo as great as he was and in spite of all he did, nothing like UPN existed in Igbo land. They must tell themselves the bitter truth, Igbo do not want APC. We have the moral authority to say so because we hold the highest stake in this country. Whether anybody likes it or not, Igbos are the people holding the unity of this country.

2015 is not about the survival of Jonathan but it is about the survival of the Nigerian project. When Tinubu was struggling as a governor, Okorocha was already leading a political party known as Action Alliance (AA). Surprisingly, he subsumed himself into Tinubu’s party. Why didn’t Tinubu and co join Okorocha’s AA. Was it not because they saw it as Igbo party? How many Yoruba in APGA? Do they not see it as an Igbo party? So, why should Igbo join a party owned by Tinubu and his kinsmen? PDP believes so much in democratic process. PDP is not owned by anybody unlike APC owned by Tinubu. PDP is the only party that accommodates every Nigerian. Those taking us to that contraption called APC are they true Igbos?