Insurgents Wont Be Tolerated in South East - Nwajagu 7 July 2014. HRH (Igwe) Fredrick Nwajagu, Eze Igbo, Ajao Estate, is a renowned community leader and coordinator, Ndigbo in Lagos and South West under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). In this interview with Reporter, Chinyere Abiaziem, he speaks on the viability of additional state as recommended by the National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government for the people of the South East, the need for Ndigbo to embrace the Unity Party of Nigeria in 2015 and other salient issues in South East politics, Excerpts: Can we meet you, sir, My name is HRH Igwe Fredrick Nwajagu, Eze Igbo, Ajao Estate, Isolo LCDA, Lagos State. I am the Chairman/CEO, Orlando Group of Companies. We are into transportation, property development, clearing and forwarding. Presently, I am the coordinator of the Igbo South East Igbo and Lagos, South West, under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). We aspire to produce the next president for the country and governor of Lagos State, including other elective positions in the 2015 general elections. We believe that if Ndigbo and other non-indigenes in Lagos State are mobilised effectively, we can make a difference in who wins the 2015 governorship election in the state. We are committed to achieving that goal. It is indeed sad that the present government in Lagos is not carrying Ndigbo along in the implementation of most of its policies. Most times, our people are at the receiving end of most policies of government. Often times, Igbo shops are locked and their businesses grounded by government officials. Our people are the real movers of the Lagos economy. Our contributions to the development of Lagos State are immeasurable. Those who know better put the investments of the Igbo community in Lagos State and the entire South West in trillions of naira. You will recall that on July 24. 2013, no fewer than 72 Igbo citizens were picked from the streets of Lagos and deported to Anambra State by Lagos State government officials. Their constitutional rights were abused, just as they were branded destitute. Ndigbo cannot be destitute. Our people do not constitute any threat to Lagos security. Why do you think that the interest of Ndigbo will be better protected under UPN? There is no doubt at all that of all the parties jostling for elective positions in Lagos State, none offers Ndigbo the chances that UPN is offering our people if it comes to power in 2015. Let me quickly clarify that todays UPN is distinct from the UPN of Nigerias great leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. But, our great party was actually formed based on the progressive philosophy of the great sage. Both however, share the same commitment to uplift the Nigerian people from the shackles of underdevelopment. UPN promises to provide free education, health services and water to the Nigerian people if voted into power in 2015.The party will also provide employment opportunities and improved security steady water supply and infrastructure to the people. Our great party promises to give opportunities to Igbo community to participate in the governance of Lagos state. Our party will ensure the safety and security of lives and property of all indigenes and non-indigenes in Lagos State. We have been meeting with the founder and promoter of UPN, Dr Fredrick Fasheun, who has always demonstrated a strong desire to ensure that Ndigbo are equitably rewarded for their patriotism and genuine contributions towards the development of Lagos State. UPN is the only party in Lagos State, which has offered Ndigbo some slots in the cabinet, both at the state and local government, including Councillorship appointment, Special Advisers appointment and House of Assembly, among others, if elected into office in 2015. I want use this opportunity to commend Dr Fasheun for his untiring efforts in carrying Ndigbo and non-indigenes along in this political dispensation. When they deported our people from Lagos State, Dr Fasheun took it upon himself to seek redress for our people. I urge Ndigbo to reciprocate this gesture by voting massively for a UPN candidate in the next governorship election in Lagos State. For too long, our people have remained docile on issues that threaten their corporate existence. We can no longer remain passive. How do see President Goodluck Jonathans chances in 2015? President Goodluck Jonathan has not publicly told Nigerians that he will be contesting in the 2015 presidential election. The president is doing his utmost best, but there are too many distractions. Nigerians are beginning to see the results of the transformation agenda of the Jonathan administration. But, there is a lot that the administration has to do to re-launch the country on the path of sustainable development. Between now and 2015, the present Federal Government still has ample time to fix dilapidated infrastructure and meet the yearnings of Nigerians. In any case, if UPN captures power at the centre, we shall offer superior leadership and deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians. What is your take on the state of insecurity and insurgency ravaging some sections of the country? It is worrisome that Nigerians are witnessing heightened insecurity in the country. Bomb blasts have almost become a daily occurrence in some sections of the country. When these bombs go off, especially in markets and churches, a lot of our Igbo people along side others Nigerians are killed. I think that enough is enough. We cannot continue to shed innocent blood. For quite sometime, there have been reported cases of infiltration of the South East zone by suspected insurgents and strange faces. Let me warn that we will not tolerate insurgency in that part of the country. You will recall that recently about 486 suspected terrorists travelling in a convoy of 35 Hiace buses heading to Port Harcourt were intercepted and arrested by the military personnel of the 144 Battalion of the Nigeria Army at Asa, in Ukwa West Local Government Council of Abia State. What kind of business were they going to do in Port Harcourt? I commend the soldiers for their vigilance. I equally appeal to the general public to be more security conscious and report strange persons and suspects to the security agencies. Again, let me warn that Boko Haram incursions into the South East will not be tolerated. Ndigbo will surely retaliate attacks targeted at them. Enough is enough. Our people have been killed in large numbers for no justifiable reasons and for issues they knew nothing about. But a northern group has claimed that they were traders going on their lawful businesses? They can tell that to the marines. How come a terror kingpin on the list of wanted terrorists was detected among the 486 suspects? It was reported that none of them had more that N1,000 on him. Let me reiterate that the South East is a no-go area for insurgents and their financiers for them to carry out their heinous acts. I urge President Jonathan not to negotiate with terrorists whose only goal is to destroy our great nation. Government must ensure that the financiers and sponsors of the Boko Haram sect are exposed and brought to justice. It is a criminal sect. Its members are outlaws whose aim is to cause confusion in the country. Government must win the war against terror. We need peace in our country, which is a prerequisite for our development. Again, as the 2015 general elections approach, I urge youths in particular to shun negative vices from politicians and vote for credible candidates with proven mettle for leadership. I advise them to shun desperate politicians who may want to engage them to cause trouble during elections. Such people will never use their own children. One of the crucial national issues, which the ongoing National Conference addressed recently, is the creation of additional state in the South East zone. What is your take on that? It is a welcome development. I want to seize this opportunity to commend the National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government for approving an additional state for the people of the South East, which will bring the zone at par with other zones in the country. The South East remains the only geo-political zone among the countrys six with five states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states. The South South and South West, North Central and North East all have six states each, while the North West has seven. This imbalance is responsible for the under development of the area. Another implication of this lopsidedness is that the zone receives the least allocation from the national budget and also under represented in almost all sectors of the economy. Part of the criteria for the creation of a state in the constitution includes viability and population. Do you think that the South East zone will meet theses conditions? An additional state in the zone is very viable. Ndigbo are noted for their ingenuity and commercial enterprise. A new state in the zone will open windows of opportunities and our people will go there and invest; and in no time, the new state would reach its potential for industrial greatness.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 05:09:24 +0000
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