Dr Ernest Ndukwe is not strange to Nigerians. For 10 years from 2001, he was in the saddle as Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and made a good launch of the nation into mobile telephony, which has grown in leaps, boosting the nation’s economy. Now, he is on the political turf, wearing the jersey of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with his eyes on the Anambra South senatorial seat in the next month’s general elections. In this chat, Dr Ndukwe bares his mind on why he chose to run for Senate and what his constituents and the nation should expect from a Senator Ernest Ndukwe. Excerpts: You served in the PDP government as Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC). What informs your choice of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as platform for the Anambra South Senatorial contest? The issue is that I still have a very good relationship with the president and you know APGA has its presidential candidate as Jonathan; so, there is actually a lot of synergy there. We don’t have a presidential candidate. So we don’t have a problem as such because there had been consultations here and there. I must confess that I have always had passion for APGA for a very long time. I must confess that my running for the Senate is not something that happened all of a sudden. I have given a deep thought to it. In fact, you can trace it back to about 10 years ago when I started thinking about running for a political office. So, it is not just something that hap pened all of a sudden. That is why when people ask me what are you doing, I tell them that I am enjoying myself very much because I have learnt a lot of geography and I have covered territories that I have not covered before. I have related with the people at the grassroots. I have also had a feel about the needs of the people and the exact situations on ground with respect to various amenities, infrastructure deficiencies and things like that. So, it’s a very big training programme even for me during this elec tioneering process that we’re able to appreciate the true situation of things in our country. That has even fired me more to be anxious to be part of making a change in our country. You’re running the election against one of the Uba brothers. How prepared are you for this contest? Let me first of all say that Andy Uba is somebody whom I have known for a long time. When I was in government, I used to relate with him one on one, so I can regard him as a friend. In fact, before I started the process, I actually visited him and told him that I would be joining the race, because since he is somebody I knew so well, I didn’t want him to know from outside that I am running for the Senate. So, I will like to say that it is something that he is fully aware of and I hope we are going to have a healthy competition. I was telling him that they have had two chances. You know his brother was a senator and he has been a senator for one term. That maybe, they should leave this one for me this time so that we can have a change in the place. So, I suspect that it would be a contest that would be smooth and devoid of any problems. You said you want to effect a change. What kind of change should the people be expecting from you? For my people, first of all, they should expect a higher quality of representation because today, I am not sure that the voice of the Anambra people is heard sufficiently in the Senate. It is important that we have the kind of representation that would make the average Anambra person proud. Secondly, I come with a lot of credibility behind me in terms of what I have done in the past. And because of that, Anambra people should expect a performing senator that would help in solving a lot of problems that are peculiar to that part of the country. And, of course, there are issues of youth empowerment, which is a very strong one I want to focus on. When you have a state government, you also need quality people in Abuja to be able to help make sure that those things that are of interest to the state are attracted to that part of the country. Because of my reach and contacts, over the years, I think I will be in a better position to attract such. And when you talk about quality representation, you are also talking about making the right laws and making sure that the average person is able to achieve what he wants to achieve in terms of seeing to the development of that part of the country. I will also encourage the participation of women in what we are doing. In my place, women actually vote men than the men in terms of standing out to come out and vote. Our place is also full of young, able-bodied and strong people. It is a very strong entrepreneurial environment. The average person in Anambra State is a businessman. So, I will also do a lot in terms of promoting entrepreneurship. I was thinking that establishment of business schools would be useful. Skills acquisition centres would also be critical because in Nigeria today, it is surprising that for some basic things like laying of tiles, putting POP, sometimes we depend on artisans from Benin Republic, and other places. I think if we devote time to put this in place, we might be able to do something for our people. Running for election costs money. What is your strategy for funding your election? You see, part of having the goodwill of people is to see that people are actually ready to support you. I have actually got some very encouraging support from the people of Anambra and I must say that even last Thursday night, I was at a function and some body who is actually from Ogun State told me that he would support my election because he felt that it is people like me they need in the Senate. I have heard tremendous goodwill and support, even financial support from various people to run this election. I have no doubt that I will be able to do it without any problem. You appear to be very optimistic about us doing things the right way. But in the Senate you will be in the midst of over 100. You may be the only one talking about change. How would you make the difference? I would say that the way God has designed this world; I’m not likely to be the only voice. I think it was Elijah in the Bible that was boasting that he was the only one that hadn’t worshiped the false god, Baal. God reminded him that there are over a thousand people in that community that had not worshipped Baal. I suspect that when I get to the Senate, I will have people of like minds and even if I have to help galvanize them into a strong group that would be able to make a change, I will do that. I believe that looking at the candidates that I have seen going to the Senate this year, I can notice that there are a few people of like minds that, walking together, we will be able to do something good for the country. This is not saying that in the past that there hadn’t been good people. One has to also acknowledge that there are some brilliant people that have passed through the Senate and have contributed well to the development of the Nigerian Senate. But there is no doubt that a lot of work still needs to be done and we have to work with such minds to make sure that all is Well
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 07:36:43 +0000
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