Hon Chijioke Edeoga, presi­dential aide on National Assembly was the spokes­person of the House of Representatives. In this inter­view, he hailed the endorsement of Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 governor­ship election.
What do you make of the polari­sation of the Enugu State chapter of the PDP with the endorsement of Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi?
Your question is laden with values. There is no polarisation in the Enugu PDP, with regards to the emergence of Hon Ifeanyi Igwuanyi, a three-time member of the House of Representatives as a front­liner in the race to occupy the Government House of Enugu State come 2015. The process of his emergence followed a clear path. First, his zone, Enugu North PDP caucus met at the instance of the governor of the state. The governor summoned a meeting of the stakeholders, about 70 of them. The press release by the Govern­ment House made this position very clear. The office of the governor has been zoned to Enugu North. And that is why the governor met with stakeholders from the zone. All the contestants, about 20 of them were summoned, all the key players from the zone, like Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Sen.Okoro, Hon Justina Eze, who is a matriarch of Enugu politics; former deputy governor, Okechukwu Itanyi, etc were brought together. The governor, following on earlier representations he had made in several meetings that Enugu State, made up mainly of not very wealthy people, resources, which should be channeled to more beneficial things, like education etc. That such resources should not be thrown away in name of politicking. He said that as much as possible brotherhood should prevail. He helped to facilitate a process, where the person who has the apprecia­tion of most of the people, somebody who is foremost in the minds of stakeholders with regards to governorship position emerged. The person is Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. It was a process of discerning the minds of the people and the governor helping the discernment to come out.
After the meeting with the northern senatorial zone, it was taken to Enugu East zone. The matter was tabled before the stakeholders of the zone. The gover­nor asked them if there was any of them who had a contrary position. None of the 50 persons who attended the meeting raised an objection. The Enugu East zone adopted the position of the Enugu North. The matter was further taken to the stake­holders in Enugu West and it was adopted. After the three senatorial zone adopted Ugwuanyi, the matter was finally taken to the Enugu PDP caucus, which is the high­est advisory body of the party in the state and the caucus endorsed the decision.
Everybody in the caucus said that If­eanyi was a good choice. The fact that the stakeholders in the party had expressed a preference does not stop the PDP primary from going on as scheduled. Any aspirant, who wants to buy a form, is welcome. What the zonal caucuses have done is advisory.
How does one place your claim that Ugwuanyi’s endorsement had no dissent with the public rejec­tion by some political leaders, including Senator Ayogu Eze of the move?
The governor facilitated a situation that would help to discern, to find out where the mind of most of the stakeholders are. The view of most of the stakeholders will approximate the view of most of the vot­ers. This is so because the stakeholders are also leaders of most of the voters. So if you bring about 70 of major stakeholders – ex governors, senators, members of House of Representatives etc- and say please let’s decide together, let’s not generate any acrimony among ourselves, how do we arrive at the person who you want to be our next governor. That was what the governor did. And things began to evolve. Contenders to that position, like former deputy governor, Okechukwu Itanyi, Amb Fidel Ayogu, our party chairman all spoke in favour of the emergence of Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The matter was put to vote in that caucus of 70 persons. The gover­nor, at a point asked if the matter can be suspended for another day but everybody said no. As I said earlier, the emergence of Ifeanyi as a preferred person across the zones does not stop the party from holding its primary. What has only happened is that stakeholders have expressed a preference. The stakeholders do not have the power to stop another aspirant from expressing his or her intention.
I have been involved in Enugu politics since 1989. I want to tell you that in ar­riving at Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the person who majority of the stakeholders prefer, the governor in accepting that decision of the stakeholders is being pragmatic. As a good leader, he was flowing with the wishes of the people. The fact of the matter is that to do contrary to that would be to go against the wishes of the people. Anybody who asks questions around would know that Ifeanyi towers above other contenders from the zone. If the governor had done otherwise, maybe the reaction would be virulent. If there are few persons who are saying no, maybe eventually they will ac­cept the verdict of the majority in the long run. Politics is a matter of brinkmanship.
Is it not ironical that Ugwuanyi is being endorsed by PDP in the state when some people are saying that the man’s three terms in the House of Reps have little or no impact on his constituents or the state gener­ally?
I am not Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s image-maker. I am not in a position to say this and that are what he has done for his constituency. He represents Udenu and Igbo Eze North Constituency. However, the point is that if Ugwuanyi has not done anything, if he has not touched the lives of his constituents, how come in an unsched­uled meeting of 70 leaders of men who have grown above lucre from his zone he emerged a clear preference? The people who endorsed him are not pushovers; they are not hungry people. They include Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, General Eze, senators, serving members of the House of Reps, former ambassadors, a matriarch, like Justina Eze; seventy great men. He was the best these people chose. It means there is something about him that has placed him above others.
Is not possible that they backed him because they knew where the governor stood?
No, the governor couldn’t have stood anywhere. Ifeanyi’s rise to power is a case study. I have thought about it and a lot of intelligent people have also called me to talk about it. Ifeanyi has run a focused, disciplined, committed campaign for of­fice. He has done what I can call campaign of personal endearment. It is not a ques­tion of group mobilisation in the way that Dr. Joe Nwodo in 1989 mobilised an entire state to fall behind him. Ifeanyi touched individuals in a unique way. If there was a burial he would be there; if there was a baptism or celebration, he would be there. If you call him on the phone, if he is too busy he will call you back later. If you send him a text message, he will respond. And these lifestyle has gone on over the years that people have come to realise that he is not faking. He is acting true to his character. Even the decision to leave his captivating billboards two, three, and four or five years at a strategic point in Enugu North says something. It shows something about how focus he is.
Those who don’t look beneath the surface would say he has not done this or that, but the truth is that Hon Ifeanyi has remained faithful to his constituency. He has supported his party to be running. He has provided all sorts of empowerment to his constituent. Of course, most legislators provide empowerment, but he has gone beyond the ordinary. I have spoken to the poor and the rich and all manner of people in his constituency and Enugu State; most of the people have personal stories on how Ifeanyi has touched their lives. He will call you on the phone, visit you unannounced.
As a former member of the House of Reps who should be conversant with the role(s ) of a legislator, what do you make of the allegation against Ugwuanyi that he has been a dumb legislator?
The major function of a legislator is act­ing as the eye, ear and voice of his people. The voice aspect of this function is the one that happens in the plenary, where people speak. They contribute to motions, bills or they lay petitions. Ifeanyi has done his own part of speaking on issues on the floor of the House. Secondly, the most critical aspect of the parliament is not done in the plenary; it is not at the place where people speak so that television will capture them. It is done in committees where laws are hammered out and petitions are heard. It is done in the interface that legislators have with the leadership. It is from this point that money and other favours are brought from the parliament to the people.
Ifeanyi has a very good personal rela­tionship with members of the parliament. He has worked effectively in committees. If he has not done that, there is no way he would have been chairman of a key nation­ally and security relevant committee, like Maritime. Maritime is a gateway to the economy. He has chaired that important committee for two consecutive terms. This means that there is something about him that the leadership of both 6^th and 7th Assembly have seen. It is a feat that is rare. People in the parliament would want to come back to their position in a new ses­sion but only a very few, in the history of the sixth or seventh assembly have attained that. It is a pointer to his uniqueness. It is also a pointer to the fact that when there is no need to play to the gallery, Ifeanyi does not talk for talking sake When I was in the House, I was visible because I was the spokesman of the House. But I tell you that even not speaking or too visible has its advantages. When you are too visible or voluble. resentment and envy will come for you. People do come after people they think are in the limelight. Ifeanyi works behind the scene to bring dividends of democracy to his people. He is the ear, eye and voice of his people. He has done all these very well. He speaks when it is absolutely necessary. It is advisable in life to speak less and act more.
Are you not disturbed by threats from some PDP members of the state to dump the party for another, if Ugwuanyi is foisted on the party?
I can tell you, without fear of being con­tradicted, that major leaders of the party in Enugu State are solidly behind Ugwuanyi. The people who decide where voters go are with Ugwuanyi. The leaders do not have any issue with his endorsement. And if he emerges the candidate of the party, his movement to the government is assured.

Enugu guber: Ugwuanyi’s endorsement based on merit –Edeoga