We Want To Be Part Of Governance In Lagos

…Eze Dimgba

Chief Uche Dimgb is Eze Ndigbo of Ikeja ad doubles as the vice president of Ndi Eze Igbo in the diaspora who has over the years guided his tribe’s folks in Lagos. Inn this interview with Uzo Chikere, he talks about how to key into the in-coming administration for the benefit of Ndigbo in Lagos and Nigeria generally. Excerpts: 

What is your impression of the last presidential and National Assembly elections?

As everybody knows, we supported the All Progressive Congress (APC) to win the election because we found out that APC is not just a political party, but a movement for change. And Nigerians have been clamouring for this change all the while; not only change of baton but change in the way things are being done in Nigeria; change for positivity. We decided to that because we want tribalism, religious bigotry expunge from and killed in Nigeria. These are the things that have held us down in Nigeria. We are living in Lagos and have benefited from the government of APC; having seen what the government has done in Lagos, we came out openly to adopt APC because we wanted this good work started by Bola Ahmed Tinubu and continued by Governor Fashola to be transmitted to Abuja; to the central level so that everybody will benefit from what those of us in Lagos have been benefiting. Lagos State government is a model second to none in Nigeria. We thank God that that dream of ours has been actualized. When ndi eze ndigbo and I came on air to adopt Muhammadu Buhari and all APC candidates, people called me names; some said I am a betrayer of Ibos; some said I did not know what I was doing; others even called me an outcast. But I told them that on the 28 of March we would answer them. By the grace of God that answer has been given to them; they have seen that the change has happened. I am calling on every right thinking Igbo man in Lagos State to come on board and join the wind of change; don’t sit on the fence. The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) can never win election in Lagos State; I have said it before and I am saying it again.

As a traditional ruler who caters for the grassroots people what should the ordinary man expect from the APC government?

They should expect good governance. In Nigeria of today, nobody has a better pedigree than Buhari, the president elect. He has shown it; he is detribalized; he is a fighter and he does not stomach corruption. We expect him to come out now and show the way for all because the victory is for Nigeria irrespective of whoever for or against him. He should make sure that all the promises made by APC will be fulfilled. We expect him to tackle the power problem such that before two years everybody in Nigeria will be happy about steady power supply. The grassroots people will benefit from steady energy supply. He should address the issue of unemployment; in fact he should work assiduously to ensure that all the campaign promises are kept. We have found out now that our votes can count, so anybody that does not do well, we will also vote him out. But I don’t pray for it to happen in Buhari’s time. He is the only man better prepared to lead Nigeria; that is why he tried once and failed; twice he did not make it, third time without success and fourth time that he succeeded. It is all because there is something he wants to do for Nigeria and now that he has that opportunity, we expect that good things will follow. We do not want any disappointment and we know it won’t happen this time around. Let him start Nigeria again and take us to the next level.

What is your advice to Ibos in Lagos concerning the coming governorship and state assembly polls?

You see, our people were deceived in the last election when they were told that Buhari is a Muslim and that he was going to Islamise Nigeria; that he would close down their businesses which really scared them. But now, we the ezes have been able to sensitise them and all those the ezes leaving in the areas we lost have been in meetings; areas like Ojo, Amuwo Surulere and so on, we know them; they are being told that those things they said about Buhari were lies. We are also addressing the angle of tribal sentiment accompanying voting pattern. For instance, they thought that Jonathan was their brother but now that they have seen that the man they call their brother has lost, there is no reason again to vote against the government in town. Come April 11, the whole story will change; our people will come out en mass and vote. After all, we live in Lagos and we have to support the government because where you live is where you are going to defend. This is where we have lived in peace without problems; Lagosians hove been so magnanimous and friendly with us so I do not see why our people should not rise up and give support to the party that is in government; that has done well. It is only in Lagos State that they know where it is going to be; not where it will be in the next five or ten years. Everything is in place and the government has done very well so why are we going to bring in somebody we don’t know to torpedo what has already been put in place?

You were a member of PDP before and now that you are in APC, what do you want the in-coming president to do for the Ibos?

We want him to carry the Ibos along because Nigeria has multiple tribes. Having won the election the he should no longer look at it in terms of those who voted or did not vote for him; he should look at Nigeria because what happened in Ibo land also happened in the North; northerners voted massively for Buhari and Ibos voted hugely for Jonathan therefore you cannot single out any group as not liking you; they are just expressing their mind. I want Buhari to carry everybody along; let him promote excellence and not mediocrity. If you see where Ibo man can fit in and do the job for the benefit of all Nigerians let him be drafted there to do the job. It should be the same thing for any other tribes. My advice for the president elect is that he should try to kill tribalism in and religious bigotry in Nigeria; if you want to worship stone or stick that’s your business. The issue is: what are you binging to the table; what are you going to do for Nigerians that benefit everybody; to ensure security and that people are gainfully employed and corruption wiped out of Nigeria or at least minimised?

You have talked about supporting the government and party in town. What is the Igbo man’s place in the Lagos State government in terms of appointment?

We have table this in a recent meeting with the representative of our national leader, Bola Tinubu where we said clearly that this time around we will not want use-and-dump attitude which our leaders complained against vehemently; that is like we are only needed during elections. That’s why The Ibos got angry and started voting against APC. We want to be part of what is going on including our children; everybody; if you are going to employ in LASTMA, let us have our people; whatever is going to happen we have to be considered. I believe that with the way we are going things will change for the better. We do not want the Ibos to continue to be in opposition in the land that has accommodated them. We have told them that we want to be in; part and parcel of what is going on in the government of Lagos State.

Ahead of the elections there seemed to be a division among the Ibo leadership in Lagos. Is the other group part of this negotiation you have talked about?

You know, all of us cannot be in one camp politically. There is no division in Ibo leadership rather what is happening is also happening in Yoruba and Hausa leadership. Many Yorubas voted against APC too; not only Ibos because that is what they want. Talking about Lagos State, is Jimi Agbaje not a Yoruba man? Many people are following him also. There is no division; it is only political difference; there is neither quarrel nor war in the Ibo leadership. Some will be in PDP while others are in APC. But now that we have defeated them at the federal level, we are asking them to come and join us. It is not a do or die affair.

An APC leader in a section of Koshofe LGA ordered the closure of a market where largely Ibo women trade because according to him they did not vte for his party. What is your advice for people who find it difficult to accept defeat in an election setting?

It is wrong for anybody to play that kind of politics. The kind of politics we want to play now is that which President Goodluck Jonathan has played; the moment you are defeated you come out and congratulate the winner. It’s not a do or die affair; for a leader to have done that; God knows, it is wrong; closing a market who had voted according to their conscience? This is one of the issues we will discuss; it is not fair.

Do you see the in-coming president bringing back pour girls?

Well, the Chibuk girls’ issue is a security matter that I don’t want to get into; I don’t know what happened; I don’t know if it was politics or whatever. There have conflicting information flying left right and centre; let’s wait and see if he can bring them back; that will be plus to him.