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.
