Chief Modestus Umenzekwe is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). On this interview with FELIX NWANERI, he speaks on the state of the nation and what President Bola Tinubu’s administration is doing to handle the nation’s financial challenges, amongst different points
How would you assess Nigeria’s financial, and socio-political develop since your social gathering got here to in 2015 after 16 years of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration?
To start with, you will need to perceive that Nigeria is evolving. The nation is evolving within the sense that what occurred yesterday might not occur at this time.
That course of is what we’re going by means of and shouldn’t be narrowed all the way down to between 2015 and now.
If you wish to begin comparability about the way in which we’re evolving, you’ll begin from pre impartial period to now and you will note sure modifications.
It’s nonetheless a means of growth, so making comparability now can be too early so far as I’m involved. We must always be capable of do this after 16 years rule of APC.
The longer term is pregnant and we don’t know what tomorrow will carry. We’re present process reformation, so allow us to see the results of that reformation earlier than we will speak.
Do you assume the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is yielding the specified outcome?
We’re present process reformation and that’s the reason it’s referred to as Renewed Hope and when you’ve got hope that has not been completely realized and also you wish to renew it, it’s important to undergo numerous issues.
So, the reply to your query is that we’re present process reformation and I imagine and hope that the reformation will lead us to the Promise Land regardless of the unfavourable narrations by some Nigerians, which is regular in any democratic setting. If these issues usually are not there, the President might loosen up.
So, these unfavourable reactions will make him to take a look at all the edges of his insurance policies in an effort to know those to retain and those to cancel. So, criticism is sweet for us as we bear the reformation. Additionally, the President, having come from activism household, is present process reformation.
Costs of petroleum merchandise have hit the rooftop in only one yr of the Tinubu administration. Don’t you see that as a negation to the higher life the President promised Nigerians?
It’s actually worrisome, I have to admit that, however the President himself and his crew are anxious. I don’t wish to preempt them now;
allow us to see what they arrive out with as a result of I learnt that they’re doing one thing severe to ensure that costs of petroleum merchandise come down. I wouldn’t wish to set an agenda for him when he’s already doing one thing.
I imagine that he understands the pains Nigerians are going by means of, and understanding him as a person endowed with knowledge, he’ll do one thing and I imagine we’re going to smile on the finish.
What do you assume authorities ought to do to carry down rising costs of products and companies?
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minster of the Economic system and his crew are doing one thing, so there isn’t any want setting agenda for them as a result of they already know what’s going on.
They’re specialists, they know higher however crucial factor is allow them to carry out insurance policies that may make Nigerians breathe.
Don’t you assume that the APC administration must take a second have a look at a few of its insurance policies believed to be inflicting pains on Nigerians?
It is just God does that’s good, which is why no matter we do as people is described as close to good. Speaking about insurance policies, the President is already making some changes however the place we’d like extra severe consideration is safety.
Safety is essential and I imagine he’s doing one thing about it, taking into cognizance the assurances by the heads of the assorted safety businesses.
However as residents, we have now our personal accountability to assist the safety businesses with data as a result of with out data, they may discover it troublesome to behave.
Thus far, how would you assess the tenth Nationwide Meeting vis a vis the assumption in some political quarters that it’s a mere rubber stamp within the fingers of the President?
You see, the judiciary, the manager and legislative arms of presidency have completely different capabilities however three should be synergy between them in the middle of going about these capabilities.
So, I imagine that the current Nationwide Meeting is performing its statutory operate and I can see the synergy between the legislature and the manager. I don’t wish to begin reeling out the achievements they’ve made.
You realize that on this nation some individuals don’t wish to acknowledge something good any individual else has achieved; they carry on puncturing as if these persons are not working in any respect. It is rather like when individuals say that the police usually are not doing something.
That assertion may be very laughable as a result of if the police go on strike for one hour, we’ll all abandon our properties. We must always be capable of acknowledge the little effort our leaders are making. That doesn’t imply that they’re good, that doesn’t imply they aren’t making some errors, however I imagine they’re doing their work.
In as a lot as their efforts usually are not but sufficient to take us to the place we imagined to be, we should encourage them to do extra. So, all I can say is that there’s synergy among the many three arms of presidency of Nigeria and that’s within the curiosity of the nation.
The chief and legislative arms of presidency have completely different capabilities, however there should be synergy between them. So, I imagine that the current Nationwide Meeting is performing its statutory operate
Governorship election will maintain in your state, Anambra, subsequent yr. What sort of candidate do you anticipate your social gathering to current for the election?
Why is each particular person involved in Anambra State? Nicely, it offers me pleasure as a result of it’s my state. I can now see the significance of the state on this nation.
Each Nigerian appears to be within the state. It’s a factor of pleasure and I’m glad that I come from Anambra, top-of-the-line states on this nation, positioned on the coronary heart of Igbo land.
In your query, I wish to guarantee you that APC will current a reputable candidate that has character and educated in human and useful resource administration.
The candidate, when elected as governor, will likely be prudent with the assets of the state. He may also be cool-headed as governor.
What’s your tackle the clamour for the discharge of the chief of Indigenous Folks of Biafra (IPOP), Nnamdi Kanu, which many imagine is vital in resolving the safety problem within the South-East?
I lately appealed to the Federal Authorities to launch Nnamdi Kanu and I would like reiterate that enchantment as soon as extra. Let’s overlook about all these legalese and launch the younger man.
So, I’m nonetheless interesting to the President to launch Nnamdi Kanu. Some will argue that it’s the accountability of the courtroom to free him or not however I imagine that President Tinubu can intervene within the matter.
It’s a passionate enchantment and I’ll proceed to enchantment for him to be launched. I’m an Igbo man and Nnamdi Kanu is our son. All these courtroom instances won’t assist out. Let him be launched by means of a political association and we’ll take him residence, focus on with him and proper him on areas the place he misfired.
The place he has gotten it proper, we’ll assist him. So, my place is: Let the Federal Authorities undertake a political strategy and launch him.
Do you assume Nigerians ought to reelect President Tinubu when the time is available in 2027 and why?
We’re nonetheless within the second yr of the administration and you might be speaking about 2027. Nonetheless, for you to not assume I’m dodging the query, President Tinubu’s financial insurance policies will quickly begin yielding fruits, and people good fruits will make Nigerians to vote him once more in 2027 for the second tenure if he so wishes to contest.
So, my message to Nigerians is that they need to train persistence, be prayerful in no matter they’re doing. God will certainly carry us out of the woods as a result of the financial problem is affecting everyone.
The challenges we face in Nigeria is identical factor everywhere in the world; America is dealing with challenges, Britain is dealing with challenges. China and Russia are additionally dealing with challenges. It’s everywhere in the world. Subsequently, my enchantment is that we should train persistence and take life straightforward.
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