I am a dyed-in-the-wool APGA person - Emecheta

 Sir Jude Emecheta, a former professional footballer, public relations expert and ex seminarian as well as political Juggernaut with the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA is contesting to fill the vacancy left by Late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah at the Nigeria House of Senate. In this exclusive interview with some journalists in his Awka office, he shares his motive for contesting and his concerns in the forthcoming primaries. Excerpts:

You are running for senate to fill the vacancy left by Late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. What informed your decision to go to the Senate?

Basically, one serious thing that informed my decision to go to the Senate is that our friend, Late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, may his soul rest in peace, started a campaign, a security campaign, for Anambra South. But unfortunately he started it in Nnewi and couldn't take it further than Nnewi. And I saw security as a very big hindrance to the progress of Anambra State as a whole. Because if Anambra South is not secured, Anambra State is not secured. All the criminal ventures in Anambra State comes from across the border and Anambra South borders Anambra State where these criminals cross border into Anambra State. So if we are able to checkmate them. Not with kinetic approach; guns and knives and suchlike, it won't work. We needed a robus technology that will put a kind of firewall across Anambra South. If we have that, every pin that crosses into the zone will be pinpointed. If you notice, crime happens everywhere in the world even in America. But for every crime you commit, you are found somewhere sometime. So, if you have a way of catching criminals, there will be a serious deterrent to criminal activities. So, my motive was not to go to the senate to get handouts, rice,beans, keke for the people. But rather, to help the state government secure the state in order to facilitate development. Our governor is putting a lot of effort into security. He has spent so much money already. So he needs someone that will support his effort. Help from the Federal Government. We will have enough security funds to augment what the governor is doing already.

If we secure Anambra South, our people and even foreigners will have confidence to come in to building factories and our boys will be gainfully employed and their parents will not have to go cap in hand mortgaging their conscience for 10kg bags of rice and suchlike. They will have enough money to buy the rice for their mothers and fathers. Their motorcycles and keke would not be for transport business but for going to work. So that we don't begin to demean our people. Everywhere you go you see Keke riders. There are so many Keke and motorcycles on the road. And it is no longer paying. That is why many Keke riders are into crime to make up. So, we need more industries. Giving Keke and motorcycles is no more empowerment for us. But this would not be possible if security is not achieved. The value chain will be so long when we have industries in Anambra State. That is why my constituency project will be security, security, security. 

We are talking about complete party men given the chance to go into senate. What is your take?

If APGA is considering a party man they don't have a choice than me. Unless they are looking for money bags. One is that I was the National chairman of Willie Obiano Support Group that mobilised Ndi Anambra to vote Willie Obiano in his two tenures. I was a key party to the 21 over 21 win that brought in Obiano's second tenure. I was supporting APGA all through. I was even wearing APGA dress to church. The coming of Prof Soludo, I was at the front line. I was promoting Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo from ward to ward, mobilising people. I challenge all who are contesting with me to come out and tell us who else but me that went from ward to ward to campaign for Willie Obiano and Professor Chukwuma Soludo. I am the real APGA chieftain that is contesting. But the party has the final say. If they say they will go the other way, I have no choice. 

Money bags. Did you take into consideration that you are not brought into the race by money bags?

I am one of those preaching for party reforms. There should be an internal mechanism for the party to work. My contest is also a protest to have an internal mechanism that the party can work from. We have had the experience where a moneybag brought in a candidate that was allowed to run for a position and when he was elected and when his sponsor later fell out with the governor, he left the party to the APC with him. This should no longer be allowed. If you look at these other candidate, everyone of them have allegiance to their Oga. Not to the party. 

What do you think are the consequences APGA will encounter if they do not do the internal primaries the proper way?

I am not a prophet. So I would not know. It is for the Anambra South people to decide. It doesn't matter. If they do not choose me, it does not matter. 

Biafran agitators have continued to project for Monday sit at home. If you are elected as senator, what would you do?

I won't bother about it at all. We wanted it and we are observing it and enjoying it. You find out people holding meetings on Mondays. We chose it and if we want to stop it we will stop it. If we choose tomorrow to start working and doing business on Monday nothing will stop us. Nobody has ever gone into Nnewi Market or Onitsha Market to shoot people. Killings happen on other days of the week in the state. All those videos you see are old videos that are thrown out afresh to stir fear.  

The people of Nnewi North are saying they should be given a chance to complete their tenure. What is your take?

It is a genuine agitation because that is where Ifeanyi Ubah was from. If they ask and the party acquiesces, I have no problem with that. Ordinarily, people would have said let us allow them to complete their tenure. I have said it before, if they present a good candidate, they should be given a chance. 

If Ifeanyi Ubah's wife indicates interest in the race, will you step down for her?

I do not see any reason why she should contest. Her husband just died and the rational thing for her as an Igbo woman out of respect is to stay back and mourn her husband at least for 6 months. 

We understand the challenges associated with representing a complicated zone like Anambra South at the Red Chambers, what should Ndi Anambra South look out for in a worthy replacement for Ifeanyi Ubah?

There can never be two Ifeanyi Ubah. Because he has a different composition. So I am looking for someone who has the mental capacity to keep Anambra South on the map at the Red Chamber. Not someone who would want to be consulting Mr A or B but someone who can interact freely at the Red Chamber. And I know I am the one. I know I have access to the leadership of the National Assembly and I have the mental capacity and what it takes to interact with the leadership of senate. 

If the party chooses someone else to bear the flag in the bye election, will you leave the party? 

I am a dyed-in-the-wool APGA person. If the party chooses someone else, I will still support the person to win. 

What attributes do you have that you believe makes you better than the others contesting with you?

I have all the attributes, politically, educationally, experience wise too. The only factor I do not have now is the economic power but if APGA gives me the ticket, the economic power will come because there are many people who want to see if APGA will make the right choice at the primaries in me and they will throw in their support financially. But, on the other hand, you know that APGA has been stripped bare of funds and that is why it is prey to all these money bags and highly tempted to sell the ticket to the highest bidder.