By: Precious Eurgo and Tony Okwunebe
Most Distinguished Sen. Nwaoboshi has great follower-ship in Delta North and it doesn’t look likely to be otherwise in distant future. Political advantages are a product of long term relationship with the people especially at the grassroots. It is intentional and a consciously developed plan that has the interest and welfare of the people at hearts, and leadership that is based on the cultural values of the people and takes a Bottom-top approach holds the key to unlocking the goodwill a political leader enjoys.
Despite the setback experienced during his re-election bid to the National Assembly in the last general election, Ike Philip Abiagom writes that Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, has been their voice and stands for them when they are seemingly oppressed and When he played host to some Community Newspaper Publishers and journalist’s at his country home in Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area, the fearless and courageous Nwaoboshi said:It is the turn of Ndokwa nation to represent Anioma at the red chambers.
Q : What is your assessment of the economic reforms embarked upon by President Tinubu given its impact on the average Nigerian, and what is your message to Nigerians?
A- Mr. President must have fared well. Democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people. That is the
essence of democracy. Policies are made for the goodness of the people. And if the people are complaining it behoove on the President and his team to find a way to solving the problem. The issue is what is the effect on the masses, on the street? For how long will they continue to complain? Take the prices of commodities on the street, we are talking of stampede, those are signs to show that people are hungry.
There’s hunger in the land. As good as the Policies maybe, the long term effect is what matters. And they must find a way to remedy the hardship because the Nigerian people voted for Mr. President to power. It is the same Nigerians that would accept the impacts. Those are the issues, so, my own advice to the President is to find a way.
Mr President himself has acknowledged it-not once or twice, the Vice President has acknowledged it -not once or twice. There must be a way to cushion the effects on Nigerians, we must look at those policies and take them gradually before we get to the promised land. Like I stated before that the President meant well. Nigeria was on a life support and it takes time to heal who is on life support. You don’t just give an injection immediately to the man on a life support and he gets well immediately, it has to be a gradual process for him to recover.
And I don’t think that the Senate President was in the right position to make that statement because it was a dark moment. All the period of last four years when he left as a Minority Leader of the senate, in which case he was in a position to criticize the policies of the administration that was in place then, As a Minority leader what did he say at the time we voted him as a Minority Leader? Then he served as a Minister for four years. We just have to look at what we’re saying and what we’re doing. Like you said that the President has acknowledged
everybody I’m not criticizing the former Governor but I’m saying that the Senate President ought not to have made such statements because he’s not in position to make such statement, so I plead with Mr. President and other Nigerians to find a way. Nigerians should have patience with the President, he meant well, maybe we has little issues on implementation.
Q- What is your take on President Tinubu’s tax reforms bills at the NASS that has faced criticism from some Northern Governors?
A- The states you are talking about is the North. You see, the amalgamation of the North and the South in 1914 was meant for our co-existence. They may not have the same resources like other persons, So, when the northern brothers are crying, we had the issue of Resource Control in this Country which was championed by Chief James Ibori and a few others when he was Governor of Delta State, and the people said the Resource Control was going to bring a problem in Nigeria. We drove round everywhere preaching the gospel of Resource Control, When we saw that its going to bring issues, we went to brig the advantages and disadvantages and we saw that it would lead to the disintegration of Nigeria, therefore, we pushed it aside. One of my friends in Lagos was telling me that this is another way of preaching Resource Control. That’s what people are saying. But my own personal concern is that we don’t want the disintegration of Nigeria. So, there’s need to look at those issues that has been raised by their people. Government like I said before is government of the people for the people and by the people. And if our Northern brothers are saying that they don’t believe in this, don’t mind those who are not talking . Some of them would finish attending meetings with their brothers in the north,
and they will come within the Government and pretend as if they’re working with Mr. President- most of them there.
They share the views of their brothers, but because of daily bread, they would not say their actual position. The fact is that northern brothers are against that tax reform. All those people you see talking are not representing. In any case ,whom are you representing? You are representing your people ,You are there to talk for your people. Its not a question of pretending to say Mr President, this is good and this is not good, Mr. President go ahead. At night you hold a meeting with your brothers, very few would say what they’re saying are you honest with Mr. President? A politician must be honest , move straight to your leader say “Oga this what I think is right “Even if it is bitter but you must as a leader say the truth. when I was a commissioner under Chief James Ibori, when he was the governor of Delta State , I walked to him and told him ” Your Excellency Sir, an Urhobo man cannot succeed you” Mr Governor there is no way an Urhobo man will succeed you, it raised a lot of eyebrow and they scandalized me ,After that the Urhobos were all over the newspapers attacking me and saying all sorts of things about me the things that happened and not, I went to him and said “Your Excellency, I am telling you , I was the state secretary when you came in and I knew how we all worked for you to be the governor of this state, we had an arrangement that power must shift to other zone. What did he do? He dissolved the entire cabinet and he did not want them to say he sacked me , I went to him and told him , Mr Governor thank you for dissolving the cabinet because I will not go back on my words.
Today, we’re having peace in Delta State. And behold we had Uduaghan from the Southern Delta emerge as governorship candidate. I met Chief Ibori at Benin Airport and he walked to me and he said, My brother, now that a Southerner has emerged will you support me? And I said I will support you.
And then, l became the state chairman of the party. After Uduaghan, it came to the North – Okowa served. In this same Delta State, when Okowa was leaving, there was an attempt to disrupt that arrangement. I came out again and I told the Urhobos that it is your turn to produce the Governor of Delta State If you the Urhobos give out that position then hold yourselves responsible. Nobody from the North or the south will usurp the powers to become the next Governor of Delta Stale And the same Unhobos who criticized me at that time, started saying, this is our darling- the man is saying the truth. What am I trying to say? You must be able to speak the truth at every material time. Its not confrontational, Mr President
has to listen to the people, or brothers from the North, look at the areas they are complaining about and see how we can get it back: We don’t need to disintegrate Nigeria because we are one united country.
Sir, what do you have to say about the Political zoning arrangements in Delta North?
A- Let me tell you, like I said, I dont want lo call names. I have worked in the Politics of Nigeria Since 1978.Very few politicians that can say they are my mate. I was actively involved , If you want peace, you think of the feelings of other, Dont say because God has helped you and then you believe you can usurp the right of other persons.
In 1989,I should be a young man but I spoke for Delta G39 that formed the PDP, I spoke at the National Conference Centre at Abuja: When they elected the first officers, I was there. when we came to Delta, we decided at PTI Warri and emerged as the state Secretary because that was were it was zoned. I was the Deputy Chairman of DBN. There was an amalgamation between DBN and this other party GDM. So, we sat down and zoned offices and the highest office that was zoned to Delta North was the state secretary.
I’m just giving you the genesis. So,when we came back to Delta State and I emerged as the Secretary and of course, we have leaders and at the end of it Late Senator Osakwe emerged as senatorial condidate which he served for twelve years at the senate. after which we went to him to say “Oga we’re three blocks”. We have the Ndokwa block, lka block and Aniocha- Oshimii block. That you have all the money,It takes a stateman to listen to his people. He also Know that the soldiers in the field are talking to him. Who are the Soldiers? The real soldier.
And Chief Osakwe step down, Even with his wealth, and Okowa came in, it was me that Governor Uduaghan sent, He sent for me on a Sunday morning and said , “Chairman and I answered, Sir, what do do want? Do you want to be Senator “or what do you want?
I said, Sir, I’m not in the position to choose on myself. You are the Leader here. Whatever You agrees is what I will accept. He said, Okay Do you want me to choose for you? I said, Sir, I abide with whatever you say. He said, Okay I want you to do a second term and l want you to be with me, I want you to remain as the chairman of this party. After I finish my term, I’ll work out something? As I was going to leave, he said, sit down I’ve not finished with you, He said, Are you bitter? I said, ‘No,am Okay. Every position anybody will оссuру am ok with it.
Anybody the Leaders think would be the senator , I’ll go for it. He said, what do you think about Okowa? I said sir, I’ve told you anybody you think is good to the senate is good for me. He said, Okay, go and tell Okowa that me and you have resolved and after that we think of other things.
As at that time Okowa was in Warri and I called him and he said, ‘Chairman I’m in Warri. Do you need me urgently? I said, Yes, I want to see you ungently. He said , okay , I will come back tomorrow and I’ll pass through your house. The next day Okowa drove from Warri to my Asaba house.
And he said chairman, what’s the problem? And i said go and get ready for senate, that is the decision of the leaders . He said No, And I said the governor said if you don’t agree with me, you should come down to Warri to ask him whether it’s true. He went to Warri and stayed for like 3 days and couldn’t reach Uduaghan. And according to him, I quote him, “ls it because of what the state chairman told you? “The governor asked him, Yes that is what we discussed. And he came back and told me in Asaba here that he want to get himself organized. Of course they have seen the forces behind him. Who are you then when the Governor, the state Chairman and other officers have agreed that this is the person that we want, candidature?.
So, he went to the Senate and the present Senator representing Delta North was running too but as far as we are concerned it was an empty challenge. After that Okowa would tell the story, of what happened not me, He’s writing his own book about what happened its not for me to say.
However, by the grace of God he completed his four years. That’s why l asked, do people still remember history? When Uduaghan now finished, it was now the turn of Delta North, in line with the principle of equity ,justice and fair play that we fought for. Okowa indicated interest to run for the Governorship. As much opposition that he had, he emerged the Governor.I was sitting in my parlour when Chief James Ibori sent Chief Faith Majemite from from London to ask me to run for the senate. That since Okowa was running for governorship which he (Ibori) was supporting him, I went to see governor Uduaghan not long Okowa came for a meeting in Ibusa with me and Hon. Anwuzia was present in the meeting and Okowa said he want to strike a deal with me. I’m calling names and we met in my house and Okowa told me that he was going to support me , that I should please accept to run for the senate and that if I want him to sign an agreement with me, he will sign it. That I shouldn’t have any fear ,that nobody will run against me. The meeting was between myself , Okowa and Anwuzia, we seal the issue. It was the turn of Delta North and he served out eight years. He served his four years as a senator which was the turn of Delta North and served another 8 years as Governor of Delta State,I did my 4 years, I did another 4 years, according to senate record I was there for 8 years. I told them, if you shoot an arrow on a stone, the mouth of that arrow will never be good again, lf you use an arrow to shoot as stone, the mouth of that arrow will be condemned. What am I trying to say? By what happened, somebody came in from the same Delta North, from the same Federal Constituency that I represent Aniocha-Oshimili Federal Constituency and he is now going to do 4 years.
If you look at it, Ndokwa people have done their 12 years, Ika people have done their 12years, Aniocha-Oshimili will complete their 12 years by 2027, 1f anybody has a rightful claim, unless the leaders say we don’t agree, it’s the turn of the Ndokwa nation to go to the Senate come 2025 – If at all there will be any controversy, it is maybe the people of Ika may say that it was the governorship that we did, we only did senate 4 years and we need to finish the remaining 4 years, which means they have to sign arrangement that when it is the turn of Anioma to produced governor, Ika man will not run. It will now be a contest between Ndokwa people and Aniocha -Oshimili, so, what I’m saying is that today the three blocks that Constitute the Delta North Senatorial District have done 12 years each. And if therefore, if I was in the senate till now, it would be morally wrong for me to go for the 4th term, because I was among those that went to tell Chief Patrick Osakwe to step down.
In 2027, for any Aniocha-Oshimili man to contest for senate is just to jettison and destroy the fabric of our agreement of Fair play, Justices and equity. make no mistakes of what I’m saying, l have all the capacity and what it takes to run for the senate, but for what l’m known for in Delta State is equity.
Q: There appear to be a resolution to the crisis in Delta APC, do u support key recommendations of the reconciliation committee headed by O’tega Emerhor?
If you say there is a crisis its an understatement, I have a privilege in my life time . we have served real Politicians and God in his infinite mercy, from child of a poor man, has elevated me to a position of a senate which is the highest legislative organ in the country, I passed through legislative tutelage . I did not just jump into politics. I formed the UPN youth wing in the then Bendel state, Dr. Omuzuwa Rt Justice Nmakwe was our legal adviser. I passed through great leaders across the country. I was personal adviser to Alhaji Shehu Musa who ran for presidency of this country and I tour the whole states of this country with him. He still regard me as a member of his foamily till today, he was the man who took me out of this country for the first time that I went to England.
when you form a political party, their is a constitution that guides you. APC has a constitution you cannot jump outside the constitution unless you want to amend it. You cannot derogate power to yourself because you have the power to take it. I was state chairman, and by virtue of that position I was a member of national executive for PDP. You cannot go and form an extra organization outside what is provided in the constitution, that is the issue on ground; and it is not the duty of reconciliation committee I was a member. I told them when they came to me, that I was not still settled down to go into the intricate of what you are doing. The national working committee of APC Delta state came to me. when they brought their report it was Orubebe and Okocha. They talked about creation of colligate district. I asked is it provided in the constitution? and he said no. I said I will not sign. He ought to have known I was a state chairman, a member of NEC, are you going to operate outside the constitution of the party? Collegiate is it there? there is Delta North Senatorial District, Local Government District, why are you now creating extra organ that is unconstitutional, because action you take here are only persuasive it is not binding in the party, I don’t go to a meeting where junior members will go back to their various wards and local government to knock out what we have decided. just like what happened recently in the minority report were twenty four local government APC chairmen signed and twenty five LGA secretaries signed minority report. how can they implement in their various local government or can you tell the LG chairmen what will happen in their various local government. I was a party local government chairman under NRC when the two Oshimili local government was one and Chief Austin Izagbo was state chairman of NRC. I have held various position in different parties, how can they take the power of certain people and give it to others they want to undermined their powers after electing them. can you call a meeting constitutionally with the collegiate? Small boys can get up one day and suspend you for attending such unconstitutional meeting and when you go to court they can mess you up and humiliate you in the court because you are disrupting their functions as elected officers.
They raised the issue of minister and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, I told them why are you people trying to create crises in this party, Nigeria has order of presidence signed by Nigerian president in which the senator takes over presidence of a minister. Go and check Nigerian law of presidence. I told the committee that I don’t see how a serving minister takes presidence over a senator, the minister is my very good friend and I have a good relationship with him, I respect him but I said they want to create a problem because by presidence the governorship candidate of our party, who is also a senator and not just an ordinary senator , the number six man in the country as Deputy Senate President. How can a minister an appointee of Mr. President who is cleared by the senate will now be the boss to someone that cleared him? We have two sitting APC senators in the state, I told them that even if you want to do it ,don’t make it open, if by tomorrow for instance Mr. President removes him from office what happens (we don’t pray for that) But a senator who has been elected for four years can only be removed either by death or by impeachment.
They want Senator Omo-Agege to be colliding with a minister? Let me tell you the genesis of this trouble, it was there before some of us joined APC there was a group in which all of them were in the group together and another group was led my Senator Omo-Agege before he became Deputy Senate president, and when it got to election time they had no option other than to join Sen. Omo-Agege but now that a minister was appointed from that group they fill they have power now and they want to incite their power on everybody but they cannot incite their powers where we have grounded politicians like us. I don’t belong to any of the groups and I want to tell them my position now-my position is that whatever belongs to Delta North can never be taken away from us. Let me give you an example you are submitting a report, Instead of you to submit to the Deputy state chairman you are jumping to Deputy Senatorial Chairman what are you doing? you are only creating more crises for the party. The reconciliation committee escalated the crises and should be held responsible because of their personal ambition. I told the committee this when they came to my house, that what you are doing will not be accepted by the national body. So it is the turn of Delta North to produce the next state chairman of APC . We are aware that somebody from Delta south wants to be the next chairman after a fellow Southern Deltan wants to be the next APC state Chairman, after Prophet Jones Erue has served as APC chairman for eight years and another southerner wants to take over again. It is not possible and can never happen. We the Delta North people must produce the next APC chairman just like other senatorial district and they will be peace.
