With 2007
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Chief Azode Ikoroha at the interview with Uche Nworah
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almost upon us, political watchers have been wondering at what seems to be the fast rising profile of the presidential
campaign of the Abia state
governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu. One man who believes in the seriousness of the Abia governor’s campaign is Chief Azode Ikoroha, the
International Chairman of the Abuja based Orji
Uzor Kalu Presidential Action Campaign (OUKPAC), one of the several campaign groups set up by Governor
Kalu to promote his presidential
campaign. Chief Ikoroha believes
so much in the Orji Uzor Kalu for President project.
He granted this short impromptu interview during a chance meeting in the Abuja office of Nze Sunny Ogbu (the Chairman of Kubwa
Landlords Association), who himself is currently embroiled in a battle with Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and the Federal Capital Development
Authority (FCDA), over the
demolition of houses in Kubwa,
in the outskirts of Abuja.
Uche
Nworah:
Chief Azode, some people are
calling Governor Kalu’s campaign
a joke, or rather an act of mischief, can you please clarify the seriousness of his presidential
campaign?
Chief Azode Ikoroha: Of course you know that Nigerians are entitled to their own opinion, but I can tell you now, on
behalf of all other Nigerians who believe in the action governor that project 2007 is for real. This is time for
change and for the better.
Uche
Nworah: At
the moment, Governor Kalu appears
to be the only Igbo man that has clearly indicated his interest in running a presidential campaign, does he have
the backing of the other state governors, Ohaneze and the other Igbo socio-political organizations.
Chief Azode Ikoroha: Like every other Nigerian, Governor Kalu is within his constitutional rights to contest for any elective position in Nigeria, the final
decision rests in the hands of the electorates, but I can confirm to you that Governor Kalu’s campaign has received wide endorsement from many Nigerians,
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Uche Nworah and Chief Azode Ikoroha at the interview
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there has been wide and far-reaching consultations with opinion leaders in the North, West, South and Eastern Nigeria.
So far, the response has been encouraging, you will also remember that despite the reports in the press, the president,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is still Governor Kalu’s number 1 fan, it was the President
that named him ‘action governor’. Dim Emeka Ojukwu and Chief C.C Onoh, to name
a few are amongst those that are backing Governor Kalu’s presidential campaign.
Uche
Nworah: So
in terms of strategy, would you say that Governor Kalu is the Igbo consensus candidate?
Chief Azode Ikoroha: Like you may know, Governor Kalu is a de-tribalised
Nigerian, he sees himself first as a Nigerian, having lived in the North and with substantial business interests
in the West. If elected, he will serve all Nigerians as the President of Nigeria, not just as an Igbo President
but also as a Nigerian president. Of course it is also important for that home base support hence the wide consultations
that were carried out in Igbo land leading to the current levels of massive support his presidential campaign is
receiving.
Uche
Nworah: I
am sure you will understand the worries in certain quarters about the
funds needed to run such a campaign, there are already allegations making the rounds that the governor’s presidential
campaign will be run with Abia
state government funds, what can you say about this?
Chief Azode Ikoroha: it is really unfortunate at the level party politics has degenerated in Nigeria, where it appears that name-calling
is easily employed as a weapon by political opponents. Nigerians know that Governor Kalu is a successful businessman; he has also built up a wide
network of wealthy friends who believe in his presidential campaign and are therefore willing to support his campaign
financially as is done abroad, but within the limits of the law. It is also on record that Governor Kalu pioneered the publishing of state government
expenditures and revenues, in order to promote transparency in government, so it is really painful when people
make such insinuations without any proof. We do realize the enormous costs needed to achieve our aims and will
in due course appeal to all Nigerians to support the campaign financially in any capacity.
Uche
Nworah: Please
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Uche Nworah and Chief Azode Ikoroha at the interview
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tell us briefly why Nigerians should vote for Orji Uzor Kalu as the President of Nigeria in 2007?
Chief Azode Ikoroha: firstly, we think that it is time for a generational shift and change in leadership, Governor Kalu is the face of the new millennium as
the president of Nigeria in 2007, he has the dynamism which youth offers, he is hardworking, trustworthy and is
very accommodating, qualities needed to run a complex government structure and country such as Nigeria.
Uche
Nworah:
They say that charity begins at home,
would you say that Governor Kalu
has done enough in Abia state,
as a kind of indication of what he would do for Nigeria if elected?
Chief Azode Ikoroha: The governor has always had the best of intentions for Abia state, but of course there are complexities in government which should also be taken into consideration
if an accurate assessment of his performance in Abia state can be made, firstly Abia state is suffering from a huge debt burden inherited from previous regimes, servicing the debts
has really reduced the capability of the government to deliver service to the people as much as the governor would
have wanted, but there are still enough evidence on the ground to show that the governor has done his best considering
the circumstances. If Governor Kalu
wasn’t performing, the president wouldn’t have named him ‘action governor’. The governor has developed infrastructures
in Abia state and has also
contributed so much to sports development in the state, his exemplary support for Enyimba Football club has now led
to the club’s improved status as one of the leading clubs in Africa, thus opening up other revenue streams for
the state, while also improving the image of Nigeria internationally.
Uche
Nworah: As
the international chairman of the Orji
Uzor Kalu for President campaign, how are you reaching out to Nigerians in the Diaspora, and do you consider them relevant in your
campaign?
Chief Azode Ikoroha: Thank you for that question, as a matter of fact we have made representations to the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC)
for the introduction of proxy voting in the coming elections, this can be achieved electronically and through other
means, this is the practice in the developed countries and we believe that Nigeria is ripe for such voting systems,
especially with millions of Nigerians in the Diaspora, whose vote could be very strategic in the coming elections.
In terms of outreach, we have had rallies in some cities in America, which were well attended; we still plan to organize rallies in other major cities in Europe, Asia and America. This project is for every Nigerian living both at home and abroad. If we are all united, then
we can break this cycle of decadence and underdevelopment and position Nigeria for both the coming generation
and ourselves.
Uche
Nworah: Thank
you for your time and best wishes in your campaign
Chief Azode Ikoroha: it’s my pleasure and thank you too.