…Explains why he’s running for gov…
TONYE Princewill, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a former governorship candidate of the Action Congress, ACN, in the 2007 election in Rivers State. In this interview, he explains among other things why he wants to govern Rivers State in 2015, the proposed amnesty package for Boko Haram members and the perceived bickering between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State. Excerpts:

There is this news filtering around that you are eyeing the governorship position in Rivers State, how true is this?

Unlike most people I like to talk straight. I have been eyeing this position of governor of Rivers state since 2006, so to me your question is not news, what is news is that I have been heavily involved in consultations to the point that I have conducted researches across the state to find out what the people want, what they need, their perspective on governance coupled with many other issues that are dear to them, so I have gone very far and very wide.

I have shared it with the Governor and other stake holders including the President and Atiku and as time goes by my decision will be made public. Where there is a will, there is a way and since my name is Princewill – with God, He will make me a way.

What informed that decision, is it the desire for gain or the desire to serve the people of Rivers state?

I think to me politics is a duty not a privilege, I donft think you should be going into politics because of what you can get or what you can gain, my purpose of joining politics is based on what I want to give.  As a private individuals we provide our own light, water, education, health and security. That might be okay for me and you but what about the less privileged? Those who are better off and in a better position should start to ask themselves what can they give back so that the less privileged can also have those benefits? Until we can do that then there should be no peace for any of us.

Princewill Tonye

So I want peace and I want peace of mind that is why I am going into politics. I have come to the conclusion that unless you have equality, justice and fairness there won’t be peace for any of us and that to me is a non-negotiable position. I want the less privileged and the disabled to have more of a voice and I am committed to giving it to them.

What new things are you going to introduce in Rivers State that the incumbent has not done?

Well everybody comes into politics with their different perspectives, so don’t let us start talking about my manifesto before I make a declaration. There is no doubt that Ameachi has done very well in a variety of areas.

Though even he would admit that knowing what he knows now, there are many things he would have done differently. So if he has learnt, so have I. But I always remind everybody when they complain about Amaechi or they complain about Jonathan or whoever they complain about, that leadership is not an easy task.

Even the best of us can make mistakes that is why pencils have erasers, so what we need to do is to encourage the leadership through constructive criticsms and that is what I am trying to do, I am trying to encourage Amaechi so he can do better.

The bickering between Jonathan and Amaechi as regards the 2015 Presidential election calls for concern, what is your own view about this?

Coming back to your question, the bickering is not necessarily because of 2015 Presidential election. I think as much as 2015 may have a role to play in it, I think it is deeper than that. Some of us have been privileged to spend time with the parties involved and we know better. I know Jonathanfs thinking on the matter and I also know Amaechifs thinking on the matter and I believe that at the fundamental root of it is a gross misunderstanding between the two. Who supported Jonathan most when he was Vice President?

And who gave Amaechi rope in 2011 when many asked him to clip his wings based on the perceived leanings in Rivers state? Jonathan does not hate Amaechi and Amaechi does not hate Jonathan.  In fact secretly if they are honest, they both like each other but I think they have been surrounded by people and events that have led to this gross misunderstanding and in the end the same Amaechi and Jonathan will surprise them all and settle.

What is your take on the outcry on the Presidential pardon granted Alams?
First of all,  Alams conviction was purely political, I challenge anybody to say it was contrary. The reason Alams was convicted is because he opposed Obasanjo’s third term bid and presented a credible threat to the political class who called the shots, so for me let us put that on the table. Is this true or not?

If it is true and it was political, why had Jonathan not pardoned him since? What was he waiting for? Who more than anyone benefitted from the death of the third term? Some people have quite amusingly said that this shows the government is not serious about corruption. Please can somebody tell me when this or any of the past governments was serious about corruption? Why are we loosing our heads over a mango tree producing mangoes?

The truth is that Nigerians particularly, and foreign governments generally, do not believe that Nigeria is taking itself seriously on the issue of how to curb corruption. And if they are sincere, they never have. Alams or not.

So for me, Alams pardon is not the issue, his pardon as in the granting or the refusal of it would not improve the index on corruption because you and I know that there are many measures that show if the government is taking the issue of corruption seriously.

What is your position on the granting of amnesty to Boko Haram?
As far as I am concerned the issue of amnesty for Boko Haram is like the carrot and stick approach which means when you want to bring your stick, you must also be ready with my carrot. If the amnesty was good for the Niger Delta of course it is good for the north but of course you must look before you leap.

The President in his statement said let me see the people, I cannot give something to the people I cannot see. Well these people are there because the bombs are not created by magic there are individuals that are parts and parcel of this thing.

My problem was that the Niger delta amnesty was created in a vacuum, it was ill conceived and it was not sustainable. What we did then was we rewarded people for carrying guns and we did not reward people for reading their books.

So I think that in as much as government needs to address the issue of Boko Haram and possibly amnesty, we need to understand that every day they have neglected the people that have gone to school, they make our future even more dangerous.

My brother Kingsley Kuku said something which we should ponder. Amnesty brought peace, which improved production. This in turn provided revenue. Our job as leaders was to convert that wealth into sustainable policy which would restore our values. Are we doing that? Job creation is the key to long term peace and prosperity. Not amnesty. One day we the youths of Nigeria will remind all of you about this.